A comparative study of listening and reading comprehension in children of different age-groups

Abstract

Listening and reading comprehension form an important part of the educational needs of the child. Learning and development are dynamic processes and educators must take cognisance of the continually changing needs of the environment. The relationship between and development of listening and reading comprehension is complex and interlinked. Theoretical and developmental strategies need to be explored to help us understand assessment and teaching procedures. This study aimed to compare listening and reading comprehension using two assessment tools - the Sentence Verification Technique and the Performance Test: Listening and Reading Comprehension English First Language (HSRC). Three groups, standard 2, 3, and 4 students, were tested on both tests and reading and listening scores were compared in each test. Then the two tests were compared. Some qualitative analyses were carried out. The HSRC test showed listening and reading to be similar in all three groups, while listening was significantly better than reading on the SVT test. These differences may be related to the fact that the subjects were able to reread in the SVT 'reading test. A developmental trend was clear in both tests in that the scores in both reading and listening showed increases with each group. The results between the two tests were similar in the listening mode but showed differences in the reading mode. This implies that they cannot be directly compared but that both still play valuable, but different diagnostic roles. The results led to a discussion of the clinical and future research implications.