Determining the level of listening skills of Arabic language learners in accordance with the ACTFL framework for assessing foreign language skills Assessment: (The case study of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at Kharazmi University)

Listening skill is one of the most important skills which should be developed during the language learning process. Improving listening skill can result in a boost in other language skills, too. While attempting to elaborate on the ACTFL International Framework, this paper utilizes it to assess Iranian students’ listening skill according to this assessment criteria. The required data were collected through a researcher-made test. The validity of the data collection instrument was established by five university professors who specialized in teaching language skills. SPSS software was used to calculate the test’s Cronbach’s alpha, and it confirmed the desirable reliability of the instrument. The developed listening test was administered to the third and fourth year undergraduate students (a total of 38) majoring in Arabic language and literature at Kharazmi University. The research findings suggest that despite taking three language laboratory courses, the students cannot by any means be placed at a satisfactory level of listening ability. The limited number of hours dedicated to the language laboratory courses seem to contribute to the students’ low listening competence. Other contributory factors appear to include an inadequate attention, on the part of the instructors, to the teaching of communicative skills along with the unavailability of proper educational materials for teaching listening.