EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF NOTE -TAKING ON STUDENTS ‘LISTENING COMPREHENSION SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF FOOD TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IN BENIN REPUBLIC

Abstract

This research aims at examining the effect of note-taking on listening comprehension skills development among 15 students at the Department of Food Technology, Polytechnical School of the University of Abomey Calavi. It tries to study how note-taking practices during listening comprehension activities influence students’ comprehension abilities development. The study combines quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. The quantitative analysis involved statistical measures to account for the evolution of the participants’ performances before and after receiving instruction on how to take notes, while the qualitative analysis focused on learners’ perceptions, experiences, and strategies about note-taking. The findings indicate effective note-taking is positively correlated with students” listening comprehension skills in terms of active engagement, deeper processing of the audio material, improved understanding and retention, and self-esteem and efficacy. The study recommends the integration of note-taking strategies in EFL curricula in order to help students develop active listening and communicative competences.