Research Paper
Year: 2023 | Month: May | Volume: 10 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 279-288
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20230535
Using Spotlight App to Improve Listening Skills for Non-English Majors
Phung Thi Thanh Tu1, Luong Khanh Chi2, Hoang Thi Anh3
1,2,3Foreign Languages Faculty, Thai Nguyen University of Education, Thai Nguyen City, Viet Nam
Corresponding Author: Phung Thi Thanh Tu
ABSTRACT
Listening to English is very important in daily communication. Listening well helps people fully understand the contents that the speaker wants to express, and from there, listening will help improve other skills. However, Vietnamese students often face problems with their English listening skills. This study aimed to determine whether the Spotlight app should be used to improve the listening ability of first-year non-English majors. The specific objective is to assess the impact of the Spotlight app on students' listening ability and to collect student feedback on their opinions toward the Spotlight app. Questionnaires and tests were used as the main tools for data collection. The study participants included 41 students, of which 20 students were randomly selected into the experimental group (using the Spotlight app), and 21 students were assigned to the control group (not using Spotlight). While all 41 students were required to take pre-test and post-test, only the experimental group students answered questions in relation to their opinions on using Spotlight and suggestions for better using the Spotlight app. The results show that there is a significant improvement in students' performance in listening skills after using this app. In addition, student feedback on the use of the method is generally positive, and suggestions for reducing obstacles to using Spotlight are provided to enhance the widespread and effective use of the application.
Keywords: listening skills, Spotlight app, non-English majors
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