The importance of Listening Comprehension.

“The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is so that we may listen more and talk less”. Without actually having been taught to listen a pupil (student) may be able to express himself orally, but he will never be able to communicate with speakers of English if he is unable to understand what is said to him. Until now we spoke of teaching various aspects of the language, namely, phonetics (pronunciation), vocabulary and grammar. The knowledge of each of the aspects is of great importance to learners. However, when we say a person knows the language we first of all mean he understands the language spoken and can speak it himself. Language came into life as a means of communication. It exists and is alive only through speech. When we speak about teaching a foreign language, we first of all have in mind teaching it as a means of communication.

Speech is a bilateral process. It includes hearing, on the one hand and speaking, on the other. When we say “hearing” we mean auding orlistening and comprehension.That’s why it is important to teach to alllanguage skills. Through language skills the information is given (speaking and writing) and information is perceived (listening and reading) speech is divided into 2 forms: oral speech (language) and written language (speech). Teaching spoken (oral) language comprises listening comprehension and speaking. They are closely interrelated with each other. Teaching written language (speech) consist of teaching reading and writing.

Language skills

Виды речевой деятельности

Oral speech

Written speech

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

Comprehension

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Often pupils find the listening skill the most difficult, yet in a lot of cases it isn’t actually taught- because it is a passive skill, many teachers seem to assume that it’s quite easy. However, as listening is the most varied medium, over which the student has no control, it would seem logical that it should be actually taught along with speaking, and the learner should be exposed, quite early on, to as many different types of listening as possible. It is clear from teaching process that communication is the most difficult if listening skills are not developed. It is known that listening comprehension is one the language skills. It belongs to receptive skills. It is the most complicated language skill, because the content must be understood in a very fast way. Listening comprehension skills stimulate the development of speaking abilities. The pupil can well participate in a dialogue. While listening pupil can quickly understand the words they can read, pronounce well and understands the meaning. While writing the pupils also do well if they can read the words, the sentences well. Thus, all the language skills (listening comprehension, speaking, writing and reading are interrelated with each other) .