Table 1. Listening comprehension strategies and practice activities
Activities for metacognitive strategies Activities for cognitive strategies Activities for socio-affective strategies
1. Preview the content in different
forms.
2. Rehearse the pronunciation of
potential content words.
3. Establishing the purpose for
listening.
4. Practice perception regularly.
5. Take short notes of important content
words.
6. Check current comprehension with
context of the message and prior
knowledge.
7. Continue to listen for clarification in
spite of difficulty.
8. Evaluate comprehension using
contexts, prior knowledge and
external resources.
9. Determine potential value of
subsequent parts of input.
10. Listen selectively according to
purpose.
11. Listen for gist.
12. Determine the potential value of
subsequent parts and vary intensity
of attention accordingly.
13. Memorize words or phrases for later
processing.
14. Pay attention to discourse markers,
visuals and body language, tones and
pauses.
1. Use prior knowledge and knowledge
about the target language to elaborate
and complete interpretation.
2. Infer missing or unfamiliar words
using contextual clues, familiar
content words, visual clues.
3. Draw on knowledge of the world.
4. Apply knowledge about the target
language.
5. Visualize scenes, objects, events, etc.
being described.
6. Reconstruct meaning using words
heard.
7. Relate one part of the text to another.
8. Relate limited interpretation to a
wider social/linguistic context.
9. Assess the importance of problematic
parts and decide whether to ignore
them or actively seek clarification.
10. Find L1 equivalents for selected key
words.
11. Translate a sequence of utterance.
12. Predict general contents before
listening using contexts and prior
knowledge.
13. Predict details and unfinished
utterances using contexts and prior
knowledge.
1. Paraphrase what speakers say to
check understanding
2. Ask speaker for clarification and
repetition.
3. Learn to relax before and during
listening.
4. Encourage oneself to continue
listening.