Comparing the Effectiveness of L2 Extensive and Intensive Listening Approaches

In the fall semester of 2019, 237 Japanese university students were placed into three groups, 97 in an extensive listening group, 104 in an intensive listening group, and 42 in a control group. Participants were given a 100-question TOEIC listening test to assess L2 listening proficiency and then placed into their respective groups. During the 14-week semester, students completed six listening assignments adhering to either principle of extensive or intensive listening (as well as a control group that received no L2 listening homework). At the end of the semester, students were given another 100-question TOEIC listening test. Results indicated that the mean difference between the pre and post-test scores was significantly larger for the EL group than the IL group t(193) = 2.14, p <.05. Among the suggestions for future research are a codification of EL and IL methodologies, a linkage of testing instruments to account for variability in testing conditions, and greater scrutiny of the participants' adherence to the intervention.