The Role of Listening Skills in Improving EFL Learners' Speaking Skills: Case of Second Year EFL Students at The University of Tlemcen

Abstract

The field of learning any foreign language is based on mastering the different four skills; listening, speaking, reading,and writing. The first two skills are the center of our investigation since the aim of this research work is to clear the relationship that exists between them. Besides, it aims at showing the great role and importance of listening comprehension in improving EFL students' speaking competence and their oral performance in general. This research work is splitted into two chapters to answer the raised research questions by attempting to spot the different aspects of listening and speaking skills.In addition it tries to demonstrate the importance of these two skills in language learning and the relationship that ties them together by conducting a case study using two different questionnaires for second year EFL students and teachers to collect and analyze data quantitatively and qualitatively. The results found during the investigation confirmed that both students and teachers believe that there is a tight relationship between the listening and speaking skills as they go hand in hand in the process of language learning, and listening has obviously a positive impact and role in developing students' speaking skill.