Improvement of critical listening skills of 6th grade students

Listening skill forms the foundation of language skills and plays a crucial role as the initial channel of communication in an individual's learning process. Beginning in the womb, this process is instrumental in preventing potential problems in both social and academic life. The main aim of this study is to develop students' listening skills by enabling them to adopt a critical perspective during the listening process. The research was conducted within the framework of an action research model based on a mixed method design in which both qualitative and quantitative data collection tools were used. The study group consisted of 6th-grade students attending a public secondary school in the province of Bolu, selected through typical case sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods. The critical listening skills targeted to be developed during the study were identified through a literature review and categorized under seven main headings. Videos appropriate to these categories were selected and reviewed by field experts in terms of their suitability for students' age and cognitive levels. Necessary revisions were made in line with expert feedback. Activities were developed based on the videos and implemented with the students in a classroom setting over a 10-week period. Quantitative data were collected using the "Critical Listening/Viewing Self-Efficacy Scale" through pre-test and post-test applications and analyzed using paired-sample t-test. Qualitative data were gathered through the researcher's diary, classroom activities, and semi-structured interviews conducted with the students. These data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings revealed that the students acquired the majority of the targeted skills and were able to apply them effectively in their daily lives. Furthermore, the students found the implementation process to be different and engaging in terms of both content and instructional method. In this context, it was concluded that the activities designed within the scope of the research were effective and functional in developing students' critical listening and viewing competencies.