Interactive Multimedia and Listening

What Listening Is

Listening is the vital skill that provides the basis for the successful communication and successful professional career. According to Purdy and Borisoff (1997), listening is a primary skill among the basic skills that bring success in our everyday life. “There is no meaningful communication without listening,” (p. 4). It is said that people learn to listen first, then speak, read, or write, (p. 4). Research has indicated that among the four communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing; people spend more time listening than the other three skills, (Cotton, 1986). Regarding foreign language learning, Nunan (1989) states that that foreign language learners spend over 50 percent of their time on listening. Brown (1987) also notes that “of foremost importance is the role of listening in language acquisition,” (p. 5). There have been several definitions of listening, and it appears some confusion between listening and hearing. So, what are the differences between listening and hearing? And what is listening comprehension?