The Impact of Note-taking on Learners’ Listening Comprehension Skills

Abstract

Research on note-taking reveals that note-taking is widely used in daily activities to store information, as well as it is often applied in the academic context. It involves a set of cognitive processes and is a combination of various techniques and strategies. In the academic context notes are basically taken during academic lectures and readings. However, little research is done on note-taking during listening activities and its effect on learners’ listening comprehension skills. This study presents an investigation into the effect of note-taking during listening activities on EEC (Experimental English Classes) students’ listening comprehension skills and their attitudes towards taking notes during listening activities. The study initially assumed that note-taking during listening activities has no effect on EEC students’ listening comprehension skills. In order to obtain data on the research, five instruments were used: 1) a pre-test, 2) class observations, 3) a post-test, 4) a closed-ended questionnaire with a space for follow-up comments, and 5)a semi-structured interview. This study used a quantitative design as the main research methodology, and also employed a supplementary follow-up qualitative interview. Consequently,two types of data were obtained from these instruments: qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative data was analyzed through SPSS software package, via Mann-Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon SignedRanksTests, and qualitative data was first transcribed and then analyzed. Twenty-five non-native English-speaking EECstudents participated in the study. Participants were split into two groups: control and experimental. The sample consisted of both male and female participants their age ranging from 11-16. Results obtained from the analysis of the research data indicated that note-taking during listening activities indeed had an effect on EEC learners’listening comprehension skills. Moreover, as the analysis of the pre-and post-test results showed, this effect was positive as students benefited from taking notes during listening activities. In addition, analysis of the six interviews and questionnaires revealed that the use of note-taking technique during listening activities helped to improve EEC students listening comprehension skills.