Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Studies indicate that difficulties English second language (ESL) learners
experience in the classroom may not be attributed to only listening comprehension of the
language of learning and teaching (LoLT). ESL learners’ performance-related difficulties may
increase when linguistic complexity is added to auditory comprehension tasks. Limited
research is available on the auditory skills of ESL learners and listening comprehension in ESL
learners younger than 12 years.
AIM : To determine which areas of auditory skills and listening comprehension Grade 1 ESL
learners find most difficult.
SETTING : The study was conducted at two independent primary schools in an urban setting of
the Tshwane district, Gauteng province, South Africa where the LoLT is English.
METHODS : A static two-group comparison design was used. Data were collected from two
similar independent urban schools. The research group comprised ESL learners (n = 15)
exposed to English for 12–18 months. The control group comprised English first language
(EFL) learners (n = 15). The digits-in-noise (DIN), children’s auditory processing performance
scale (CHAPPS) and listening comprehension test 2 (LCT-2) were used. Six Grade 1 teachers
participated in this study.
RESULTS : Majority of the participants (n = 25) passed the DIN test. In the overall scores for the
CHAPPS and LCT-2, significant differences were found between the two groups (p = 0.024;
p = 0.001). Strong agreements were found between the ESL participants’ test results for the
CHAPPS and LCT-2. Results indicate that ESL learners experience significant difficulties with
higher linguistically dependent auditory skills and listening comprehension tasks.
CONCLUSION : ESL learners achieved poorer scores as the listening tasks became more linguistically demanding. Specific layers of auditory skill and listening comprehension
difficulties when listening in their LoLT were identified in the ESL learners. Targeted intervention
and curriculum support with the help of a speech-language therapist can be provided.
