The Impact Of Peer-tutoring Approach On EFL Listening Comprehension

Listening comprehension is a complex, active process in foreign language learning and deserves more analysis and support. This study is designed to evaluate the impact of peer tutoring on listening process among Chinese EFL learners. Based on theories of Sociocultural and collaborative learning, peer tutoring has been regarded as a useful teaching and learning device in second language learning.More specifically, the study aims to employ the peer-tutoring approach to help students improve their listening achievements. The participants involved were 51 English majors from two intact classes in Humanity School of Gansu Political Science and Law Institute. They were divided into a control group and an experimental group respectively. At the beginning of the study, a pretest had showed that the two groups' listening proficiency was similar. Only experimental group received peer-tutoring training in the class. A posttest was given at the end of the study. The results revealed that the two groups were significantly different and peer tutoring did foster the experimental group's listening. Experimental group also completed a questionnaire, which was to investigate the attitude towards peer tutoring. Besides, 6 participants were chosen to receive an interview to reflect the diversity of students with respect to peer work and collaborative listening approach.By undertaking the research, the author aims at a profound understanding of second language listening process and seeks to apply a collaborative learning approach to facilitate the second language listeners in hopes of improving their listening comprehension performance and promoting their motivation and self-confidence as well.