This paper discussed the listening skill in language learning, the pedagogic approach to
the development of the listening skill and the application of computer technology to
the listening skill. The methods used to investigate comparative success rates on compre-
hension tasks and language recall through use of audio, video and multimedia were then
described. The quantitative results showing higher success rates for tasks completed
on multimedia were then shown. Finally, some of the implications of these results for
the development of listening skills, for possible acquisition of new language and for the
use of multimedia applications in language learning were put forward. It is of course
a matter for further research to confirm such findings in other learning contexts and,
much more importantly, to confirm that such benefits and gains within a pedagogic con-
text may be transferred to real-life performance.