1.1. Listening Skill:
Many language learners consider listening ability the measure of knowing a language. As for them, fluency is the ability to converse with others much more than the ability to read, write or comprehend oral language. They regard listening as the most important skill they can acquire. Therefore, if learners do not learn how to listen or do not get any opportunities to listening in the language classroom, they may soon get de-motivated and lose interest in learning other skills. 1.2. Concepts of Listening:
According to Howatt and Dakin (1974), listening is the ability to identify and understand what others saying. This process involves understanding a speaker’s accent or pronunciation, the speaker’s grammar and vocabulary, and comprehension of meaning.
Woven and Coakley (1985) hold the different idea. They see listening as "the process of receiving, attending to and assigning meaning to aural stimuli". This definition indicates that listening is a complex process which students have to deal with. The task of listening is not only perception of sound, but it also requires comprehension of meaning.
According to Bulletin (1952) in Naizhao Guo’s journal , listening is one of the fundamental language skills. It's a medium through which children, young people and adults gain a large portion of their education-their information, their understanding of the world and of human affairs, their ideals, sense of values, and their appreciation. In the day of mass communication (much of it oral), "it is of vital importance that our pupils be taught to listen effectively and critically" he says.
Listening is also believed to be a key and essential area of the development in a native language and in a second or foreign language as well. Hence, there have been varieties of definitions of listening. Bentley & Bacon (1996) state that