Use Of Listening Strategies (Lss) By Pakistani ESL Learners

Abstract

In Pakistani ELT setting, listening skills are neglected because of overemphasis on reading, writing and speaking skills. The purpose of this study is to find out the frequency of use Listening Strategies (LSs) by Pakistani ESL learners. This is descriptive research according to the objectives of the study. This is also quantitative research according to the mode of data collection. The[1] university students of BS level studying at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur were the population of the study. Data were collected form 375 respondents from 15 departments selecting one department from each Faculty. The questionnaire was based on Oral Communication Strategy Inventory (OCSI) Part-B (Strategies for coping with Listening Problems) developed by Nakatani (2006). SPSS-20 was used for data analysis by calculating the value of mean, standard deviation and simple percentage. The findings of the study showed that almost half of the population (51%) used LSs in medium and low frequency against almost half of the population (49%) that used LSs in high frequency. 7 types of LSs are also ranked according to their use on the basis of mean value: NSL LSs (M=3.57) got the 1^st position; S LSs (M=3.46) got the 2^nd position; WO LSs (M=3.38) got the 3^rd position; FM LSs  (M=3.33) got the 4^th position; LAL LSs (M=3.21) got the 5^th position; GG LSs (M=3.14) got the 6^th position; NML LSs (M=3.13) got the 7^th position. It is suggested that effort should be made to bring the half of the population that used LSs in medium and low frequency to the level of high frequency with more satisfactory percentage of 80%, 90% or 90%-100%.