Abstract:

English is recognized as an international communication language. This has boosted the development of language education approaching, focusing on in English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Listening is a basic communication skill; but it presents particular challenges. In China, English language learning is a formal part of school curricula. Due to the local language culture, the development of English language listening skills has been found to be a very challenging skills; see the analysis of CT4 and CT6 language tests in the national cohorts of 2015-2018.

Though a lot of research is available as to the teaching of English as a foreign language, there is a lack of research focusing on variables affecting the mastery of Chinese students’ English listening skills. The present paper reports on a study mapping key variables identified as determining the development of the latter skills. The literature review adopts a scoping review approach (Flaherty & O’Malley, 2015). Building on clearly defined search criteria in the Web of Science, the review helped identifying initially key influencing variables in developing English language listening skills empirical studies. But after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, the number of studies to be included in the subsequent analysis was reduced to 17 articles. Further analysis of these articles on the base of the research questions, helped identifying 27 variables that could be linked to the development of English listening skills in Chinese students. In particular, 10 variables showed potential to be considered in detail, since they help defining an adequate learning environment for students; such as teaching method; vocabulary and sentence; autonomous learning; basic English foundation: comprehensive cultural; capacity cultivation: communication; management; insufficiency of equipment; Teaching goal; pronunciation & phonetics; efficiency and effectiveness.

Keywords:

Key influencing variables, English language listening, learning skills, English listening problems.