Strategic Approaches in Teaching Critical Listening to EFL Learners: A Classroom Case Study

  • Andini Septama Sari STKIP Muhammadiyah Pagaralam

Abstrak

This qualitative case study investigates how a university EFL lecturer integrates multiple instructional strategies to teach Critical Listening to third-semester English Education students in Indonesia. Employing classroom observations, interviews, and document analysis, the study identifies three key strategies: bottom-up, top-down, and direct instruction. Findings reveal that these approaches, applied in a complementary manner across different teaching stages, foster improved vocabulary acquisition, comprehension of audio texts, and critical engagement. Challenges such as limited class time, lack of student motivation, and insufficient vocabulary were documented, alongside practical solutions such as media adaptation and flexible lesson planning. The study contributes to understanding effective pedagogical frameworks in EFL listening instruction and emphasizes the contextual factors that influence their success. Implications highlight the need for adaptive strategy use, increased teacher support, and future research into self-regulated learning integration.

Referensi

Aldukhayel, D. (2023). The Impact of Vocabulary Preteaching and Content Previewing on the Listening Comprehension of Arabic-Speaking EFL Learners. Informing Science the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline, 26, 023–038. https://doi.org/10.28945/5076

Almanea, M. (2023). Does the Use of Web-Based Extensive Listening Activities Affect Foreign Language Listening Anxiety and Foreign Language Anxiety? Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 14(6), 1710–1721. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1406.30

Anderson, J. R. (2005). Cognitive psychology and its implications. Macmillan.

Astrid, A., Khodijah, N., Zuhdiyah, Z., & Yuliyanti, A. Y. (2024). Indonesian EFL Students’ Anxiety Factors and Solutions for Listening Comprehension: Multiple Case Study. Studies in English Language and Education, 11(1), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v11i1.30976

Budiana, K. M., Cahyono, B. Y., Yannuar, N., Ivone, F. M., & Sari, A. S. (2026). Understanding learners’ motivation in online English training for teachers: Balancing personal interest and workplace demands. Veredas do Direito, 23(2), e234306.

Cervetti, G. N., Pearson, P. D., Palincsar, A. S., Afflerbach, P., Kendeou, P., Biancarosa, G., Higgs, J., Fitzgerald, M. S., & Berman, A. I. (2020). How the Reading for Understanding Initiative’s Research Complicates the Simple View of Reading Invoked in the Science of Reading. Reading Research Quarterly, 55(S1). https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.343

Chorrojprasert, L. (2020). Learner Readiness--Why and How Should They Be Ready?. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 13(1), 268-274.

Du, G., & Man, D. (2023). The Predictive Effects of Motivational Beliefs on Listening Strategy Use: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 34(1), 150–165. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12484

Ducker, N. (2022). A Situated Examination of the Complex Dynamic Nature of L2 Listening in EMI. Language Teaching Research, 29(7), 3029–3079. https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688221124439

Duman, S. K., Yalçın, Ş., & Erçetin, G. (2021). Working Memory and Language Aptitude in Relation to Listening Strategy Instruction in an Instructed SLA Context. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 41, 108–117. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0267190521000040

El-Henawy, W. (2025). Empowering EFL Student Teachers with Evidence-Based Practices: Findings from the Teaching Practicum. Port Said Journal of Educational Research, 4(2), 149-213.

Fathi, J., Derakhshan, A., & Torabi, S. (2020). The Effect of Listening Strategy Instruction on Second Language Listening Anxiety and Self-Efficacy of Iranian EFL Learners. Sage Open, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020933878

Ficzere, A., Haringa, I., & Weiss, E. (2024). The Importance of the Novelty Factor in Teaching Listening Comprehension. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 15(1), 315–330. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.1.315.330

Hasbi, M., Islamiah, N., Astawa, N. L. P. N. S. P., Hamidah, F. N., Nor, H., Noenoek, B. M., Nisa, B., Sari, E. D. P., Yuliani, N. D., Sari, A. S., Tungka, N. F., Rahmah, M., Sata, M. R. M., Madkur, A., Fauzi, A. R., Rahmawati, O. I., Wardani, E., Purnami, I. A. O., Mulyani, Y. S., Lina, M. F., Dewi, R. F., Hastomo, T., Juhansar, Pricilia, G. M., Mandasari, B., Nurohman, Assiddiq, M. A., Ghufron, A. M., Amna, S., Naufal, M. R., & Fajaria, N. H. (2024). Building Gen Z-friendly classroom engagement. In K. M. Budiana (Ed.), How to Teach English to Gen Z Students. Rizquna Publisher.

Hastomo, T., Sari, A. S., Widiati, U., Ivone, F. M., Zen, E. L., & Andianto. (2025). Exploring EFL teachers’ strategies in employing AI chatbots in writing instruction to enhance student engagement. World Journal of English Language, 15(7), 93–104. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v15n7p93

Hastomo, T., Sari, A. S., Widiati, U., Ivone, F. M., Zen, E. L., & Kholid, M. F. N. (2025). Does student engagement with chatbots enhance English proficiency? ELOPE: English Language Overseas Perspectives and Enquiries, 22(1), 93–109. https://doi.org/10.4312/elope.22.1.93-109

İrgin, P., & Erten, İ. H. (2020). Exploring the Role of Strategy Instruction: Young Learners’ Listening Performance and Strategy Use. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 413–439. https://doi.org/10.32601/ejal.834676

Khallaf, N. M., Rasti-Behbahani, A., & Abugohar, M. A. (2024). Genre Analysis in Blended Learning: Empowering English Majors’ Critical Listening Skills: Case of Faculty of Education, Minia University, Egypt. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 6(5), 793–808. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i5.6767

Lee, J. H., & Levine, G. S. (2018). The Effects of Instructor Language Choice on Second Language Vocabulary Learning and Listening Comprehension. Language Teaching Research, 24(2), 250–272. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168818770910

Lee, O.-S., & Park, J. (2020). Understanding L2 Speech Production: Implications for Teaching Speaking in EFL Classroom. The Journal of Asiatefl, 17(3), 808–823. https://doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2020.17.3.4.808

Mathumathi, P., Selvi, T., Subhashini, R., Hoque, M. S., Oli, L., & Fantaye, B. K. (2024). Factors Affecting Students’ Listening Comprehension. World Journal of English Language, 14(4), 466. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v14n4p466

Milliner, B., & Dimoski, B. (2021). The Effects of a Metacognitive Intervention on Lower-Proficiency EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension and Listening Self-Efficacy. Language Teaching Research, 28(2), 679–713. https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688211004646

Nasim, S. M. (2022). Metacognitive Listening Comprehension Strategies of Arab English Language Learners. Education Research International, 2022, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9916727

Payaprom, S. (2022). Investigating the Relationship Among Metacognitive Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension Performance. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1301.04

Putra, Y. S., Tansilo, H., Hastomo, T., Sari, A. S., & Aguilar, M. G. W. (2025). Efficacy of AI-based Text-to-Speech in Indonesian pronunciation training for foreign speakers (BIPA): A mixed-method analysis. Journal of Educational Management and Instruction, 5(2), 479–492. https://doi.org/10.22515/jemin.v5i2.12403

Rababah, L., Al-Khawaldeh, N., & Rababah, M. A. (2023). Mobile-Assisted Listening Instructions With Jordanian Audio Materials: A Pathway to EFL Proficiency. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (Ijim), 17(21), 129–144. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v17i21.42789

Robillos, R. J., & Bustos, I. G. (2022). Learners’ Listening Skill and Metacognitive Awareness Through Metacognitive Strategy Instruction With Pedagogical Cycle. International Journal of Instruction, 15(3), 393–412. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2022.15322a

Rukthong, A. (2021). Complex Interplay of Cognitive and Strategic Processing in EFL Listening: Implications for Teaching. rEFLections, 28(3), 313–333. https://doi.org/10.61508/refl.v28i3.254570

Rumelhart, D. E. (2022). Toward an interactive model of reading. In Attention and performance VI (pp. 573-603). Routledge.

Safa, M. A., & Motaghi, F. (2021). Cognitive vs. Metacognitive Scaffolding Strategies and EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension Development. Language Teaching Research, 28(3), 987–1010. https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688211021821

Sari, A. S., Widiati, U., Zein, E. L., & Suharyadi. (2026). From classroom to autonomy: A systematic literature review of self-regulated learning strategies in English language teaching. Journal of Research on English and Language Learning (J-REaLL), 7(1), 319–343. https://doi.org/10.33474/j-reall.v7i1.24739

Sari, A. S., Fadilaturrahmah, F., Kalsum, U., Yuliana, Y., Juliansa, P. R., Putra, Y. S., & Tansilo, H. (2022). Pelatihan pembuatan video sebagai media pembelajaran menggunakan Kinemaster. Media Abdimas, 1(3), 41-45.

Shaojie, T., Samad, A. A., & Ismail, L. (2024). The Influence of Meta-Cognitive Listening Strategies on Listening Performance in the MALL: The Mediation Effect of Learning Style and Self-Efficacy. Sage Open, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241249354

Suzuki, R., & Yamane, S. (2024). Japanese EFL Learners’ Comprehension and Perceptions of Three Different Accents in Listening Assessment. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 34(4), 1497–1513. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12584

Taherkhani, B., Aliasin, S. H., Khosravi, R., & Izadpanah, S. (2022). The Interface Between Metacognitive Strategy Training and Locus of Control in Developing EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension Skill. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.847564

Thompson, K., Leintz, P., Nevers, B., & Witkowski, S. (2010). The integrative listening model: An approach to teaching and learning listening. Listening and human communication in the 21st century, 266-286.

Tran, L., Nguyen, T. T. B., & Dung, Đ. T. X. (2025). Exploring EFL Listening Anxiety and Its Correlation With Learners’ Perceived Listening Proficiency, Interest, and Practice. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 15(6), 1753–1765. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1506.04

Tsang, A. (2021). EFL Listening, Pronunciation, and Teachers’ Accents in the Present Era: An Investigation Into Pre- And in-Service Teachers’ Cognition. Language Teaching Research, 29(1), 199–220. https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688211051981

Wu, J. (2025). English Listening Prediction Strategy Based on Deep Learning and Its Training Methodology. International Journal of Cognitive Informatics and Natural Intelligence, 19(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijcini.384513

Xu, J., Fan, J., & Luo, K. (2021). Exploring L2 Listening Instruction, Self-Efficacy, and Strategy Use: A Mediation Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.758757

Xu, J., Wang, M., & Dong, M. (2022). Relationship Between Test-Taking Motivation and Listening Metacognitive Awareness in EFL Listening Context. European Journal of Psychology Open, 81(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1024/2673-8627/a000020

Yaacob, A., Amir, A. S. A., Asraf, R. M., Yaakob, M. F. M., & Zain, F. M. (2021). Impact of Youtube and Video Podcast on Listening Comprehension Among Young Learners. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (Ijim), 15(20), 4. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v15i20.23701

Yu, H., & Wen, J. (2024). Examining Lexical Profile in General-Audience English Podcasts: A Close Replication of Nurmukhamedov and Sharakhimov (2021). Language Teaching, 58(4), 556–572. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0261444824000211

Zhang, F., & Wu, X. (2024). Motivation and Anxiety in Chinese EFL Students’ Listening Process: An Idiodynamic Approach. Language Teaching Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688241268632

Zhang, P., & Graham, S. (2019). Vocabulary Learning Through Listening: Comparing L2 Explanations, Teacher Codeswitching, Contrastive Focus-on-Form and Incidental Learning. Language Teaching Research, 24(6), 765–784. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168819829022

Zhang, S., & Zhang, X. (2020). The Relationship Between Vocabulary Knowledge and L2 Reading/Listening Comprehension: A Meta-Analysis. Language Teaching Research, 26(4), 696–725. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168820913998

Diterbitkan
2026-06-23
Bagian
Articles