Effect of active learning techiques on 4th grade students' listening comprehension skills and attidudes towards listening

In this research, it was aimed to determine the effect of active learning techniques on 4th grade students' listening comprehension skills and attitudes towards listening. The research was carried out with the participation of the 4th grade students who enrolled in Tire Merkez Menderes Primary school in city of İzmir. Study group of the research was composed of 56 4th grade students. In order to assess the listening skills of the students, one narrative and one instructive text have been chosen and a listening comprehension achievement test was developed. Achievement test and Attitudes Towards Listening Scale developed by the researcher were administered as pretest measures. Data obtained from students' responses was analyzed with SPSS 18 package program and it was observed that there were no significant differences between the 4th grade class sections. Therefore, 4/A class (28 students) was assigned as experimental group and 4/B class (28 students) was assigned as control group. Listening training composed of course plans organized with active learning techniques were provided to students in experimental group through 8-weeks by the researcher. However, courses of control group were carried out by the classroom teacher. In order to evaluate mean group differences, Achievement Test and Attitudes Towards Listening Scale used as pretest measures were administered again as post-test measures. In the end of the research, when Achievement Test scores and Attitudes Towards Listening Scale scores were examined, it was determined that there were significant differences in favor of experimental group. As a result, it can be said that active learning techniques improved listening skills and attitudes towards listening positively. KEYWORDS: Listening, listening comprehension, active learning techniques, attitude toward listening.