Abstract :

The research evaluates Task-Based Learning (TBL) effectiveness for enhancing listening skills of first-semester students who study English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Despite the importance of listening comprehension in second language acquisition, many EFL learners struggle to understand spoken English due to limited vocabulary knowledge, fast speech rate, and insufficient exposure to authentic listening activities. The research study investigates task-based listening activities which help students develop active listening skills through their participation in practical communication exercises. The study used a pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design which tested fourteen students who studied English Education at an Indonesian university. The researchers collected data using listening comprehension tests which were given to students at two different times along with classroom observations and a student perception questionnaire. The instructional treatment included eight sessions of task-based listening training. The results demonstrated a major improvement in student listening abilities. The mean listening score rose from 57.14 in the pre-test to 78.57 in the post-test. A paired-sample t-test confirmed that the improvement showed statistical significance with a t-value of 10.82 and a p-value of less than 0.001 and the result achieved a large effect size according to Cohen’s d value of 3.05. The research findings demonstrate that task-based listening instruction improves student participation while it helps students build their listening comprehension abilities. The researchers recommend conducting additional research with larger participant groups and experimental study methods.

---

Keywords :

communicative language teaching; EFL learners; listening comprehension; task-based learning; university EFL context.

---

References :

1. Al-Khresheh, M. (2024). Metacognitive listening strategies and EFL learners’ listening comprehension. Cogent Education, 11(1).
2. Aryadoust, V. (2023). Second language listening constructs. Language Assessment Quarterly, 20(3), 1–21.
3. Badianti, A. (2023). Efektivitas pre-test dan post-test dalam pembelajaran listening di kalangan mahasiswa. Jurnal Mahasiswa TARBAWI: Journal on Islamic Education, 7(1), 110–120.
4. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
5. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
6. Cross, J. (2021). Listening in the language classroom. Cambridge University Press.
7. Ellis, R. (2021). Task-based language teaching: Retrospect and prospect. Cambridge University Press.
8. Field, J. (2018). Listening in the language classroom. Cambridge University Press.
9. Fu, Y., Zhang, X., & Xie, Q. (2023). Metacognitive strategies and listening comprehension. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1186023.
10. Goh, C. C. M., & Aryadoust, V. (2021). Metacognition in second language listening. System, 99, 102501.
11. Graham, S., Santos, D., & Vanderplank, R. (2018). Listening comprehension and strategy instruction. Language Teaching Research, 22(3), 345–365.
12. Kositchaivat, S. (2025). Task-based learning and listening comprehension in EFL classrooms. LEARN Journal, 18(1), 87–104.
13. Long, M. H. (2015). Second language acquisition and task-based language teaching. Wiley-Blackwell.
14. Mercer, S., & Dörnyei, Z. (2020). Engaging language learners in contemporary classrooms. Cambridge University Press.
15. Nation, I. S. P., & Newton, J. (2020). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge.
16. Philp, J., & Duchesne, S. (2021). Engagement in language learning. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 41, 50–72.
17. Skehan, P. (2020). Second language task-based performance. Routledge.
18. Susanti, S. (2024). The effect of task-based learning on EFL students’ listening comprehension. Journal of Language Teaching Research, 15(2), 320–335.
19. Swain, M. (1995). Three functions of output in second language learning. In G. Cook & B. Seidlhofer (Eds.), Principle and practice in applied linguistics (pp. 125–144). Oxford University Press.
20. Vandergrift, L., & Goh, C. C. M. (2019). Teaching and learning second language listening. Routledge.
21. Willis, D., & Willis, J. (2021). Doing task-based teaching. Oxford University Press.
22. Zhang, D. (2025). Task-based teaching methods in English language education. TESOL Quarterly, 59(1), 210–225.