Listening, the most frequently used form of language skill, plays a significant role
in daily communication and educational process. In spite of its importance, listening
ability development has received only slight emphasis in language instruction.
Nevertheless, U.S. college classrooms, where comprehensive listening serves as a
primary channel for learning, require that students function effectively as listeners. It is
therefore important for ESL programs to prepare students for successful listening in
academic lectures by implementing authentic listening materials in the ESL classes.