Effect of Narrow Listening Strategies on the Second Language Learners of Grade 5 in Private Schools of Pakistan

Abstract

Listening is the gateway of learning a second language. However, listening carries along many anxiety factors which hamper the acquisition among learners. The importance of listening to acquire any second language makes it mandatory for teachers to incorporate it in their lessons. Therefore, many researches and discussions had been carried out to lessen the factors of anxiety by using strategies such as narrow listening. In this current era, anxiety while listening comprehension classes is a key hindrance to the second language acquisition. The study of all those successful strategies to curb anxiety can open up future vistas for young learners. The practice of narrow listening strategies is almost non-existent in Pakistani classrooms. Currently, some English medium schools have prescribed listening in their curriculum; still, it is not being taught and tested seriously and causes listening anxiety among students. The current research investigated the use of narrow listening strategies and its effectiveness in classroom to expedite the process of acquisition by using a quantitative method. Participants of this research were 120 students of grade 5 in a private school in Pakistan. A quasi-experimental strategy along with the pretest-posttest control group design was adopted for this study. Cambridge KEY for schools (sample test) was used as the instrument. A careful analysis of data findings showed that a high level of anxiety was lessened by the use of narrow listening strategies suggested by Krashen (1986). These findings may have some implications and suggestions for further future teaching of second language listening comprehension to L2 students.