Listening with Intent: Using ITunes U Language Course to Develop Active Listening Skills for Gifted and Talented Students

Abstract

Teaching foreign language takes another step with the emergence of mobile applications and websites taking the classroom experience beyond the four walls of a traditional one. Interactive and well-developed applications such as Duolingo, Hello Talk, WiP learning, Mind snacks and Babbel, offer new language learning experience to current generation of students. The mobile apps create interesting environment and good space to practice and use the language. This study investigated the efficacy of iTunes U on improving listening skill of foreign languages taught to the gifted and talented students of Permata Insan College, Islamic Science University of Malaysia. There were 47 Foundation Three (15 years old) students of the college who participated in the iTunes U courses for Arabic and English subject. The students later were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to gauge their attitude and perception towards the courses that covered the listening skill lessons. The finding showed that the iTunes U listening lessons managed to help the students developed their skill and awareness on the listening aspects of both languages. The use of uploaded short videos and the discussion about them managed to enhance their listening ability and quality since they were more alert and conscious in their conversation and listening effort. The positive perception towards such listening lessons in iTunes U courses augurs well for the use of online language learning platform for the gifted and talented students.