Investigating EFL Students Listening Skills

Abstract

Listening is considered to be a very important learning tool for all content areas; in the sense that any subject depends mainly on the students ability to listen. There is no doubt that listening sub-skills are essential for any kind of listening in the school or in the university. Due to the argument over the importance of teaching listening in English language classroom, the present study is attempt to investigate EFL students listening skills. The research was carried out in the department of English, Faculty of Languages, Sudan University of Science and Technology in the first semester of the academic year 2012/2013. The descriptive analytic method of data collection and analysis was used. A listening test was conducted to 50 first year undergraduate Sudanese EFL learners who were selected randomly. The research findings showed that the students are not competent in listening skills. Although, the students try to be active listeners by employing strategies to facilitate, monitor and evaluate their listening. In the light of the results of the study some recommendations were suggested to teach listening skills in a more modern and effective way.