Comparing the Effectiveness of Oral and Written Multiple-choice Listening Tests from Persian Learner's Points of View and Performance

Listening and speaking are closely interrelated from a pragmatic perspective. Thus، assessing listening comprehension requires assessment of speaking proficiency. Nevertheless، it is possible to distinct some listening performance types from speaking performances; for example، listening to radio or TV، listening to teacher and listening to pager in an airport. Taking into account the fact that reviewing listening text is impossible in exams، presenting methods to enhance this skill has been brought into sharper focus by researchers and teaching experts. The present study is an effort to compare the effectiveness of oral and written multiple-choice listening tests for Persian Learners. In fact، this study answers this question that whether an IELTS or TOEFL-like Persian test would be efficient in measuring learners’ listening proficiency or not. To do so، a researcher-made oral and written multiple-choice listening test was designed (each of which with 10 items). The research was conducted in a survey and the population included all learners in Persian Language Center in Imam Khomeini International University، Qazvin، among whom a total number of 36 applicants were randomly selected. Their ages ranged 18 to 25 years old and they were studying at complementary level. The results، analyzed through SPSS، showed applicants considered written format of listening test as more appropriate although they had better performance in oral format of this skill.