Talking about the mother-tongue language, most people believe that they are good listeners. They do not consider the important differences between hearing and listening. The ability to hear is typically natural, but the ability to listen well is a skill that must be developed and practiced even in the first language. We probably spend more time using our listening skills than any other kind of skill. Therefore, it is one of the most important skills that should be taught and developed in ESL learners.Real listening is an active process that has three basic steps: hearing, understanding, and judging (whether it makes sense or if one believes in what he/she hears). Assisting ESL learners in the development of listening comprehension is not an easy task. It requires both the teacher's and the learner's attention. For ESL adult learners, listening plays a crucial role not only in communication, but also in the acquisition of language as well as in gaining other knowledge. Therefore, besides the real life listening situations, teachers should give enough time and attention for listening activities during lessons. It is also important to teach ESL learners to listen for different purposes, e.g. for details or just for whole sense of the text. Organizing listening lessons consisting of three stages, such as pre-listening, the listening task, and post-listening, can facilitate the development of listening abilities. Pre- and post-listening activities would help the learners concentrate on what to listen for, to assess how accurately they succeeded, and to transfer the listening skill to the world beyond the classroom.
Understanding the listening process and factors that affect listening (learners background and interests, appropriate level of language, quality of recording, speed of speech, or number of speakers) helps teachers to select and create listening materials and activities that would meet the needs of their adult ESL learners. Teachers should also incorporate these listening activities into the curriculum and bring them closer to real-world situations in combination with speaking, reading, and writing.
