Evaluation of English Listening Proficiency of SALC Users at KMUTT

Abstract

This preliminary study which has been funded by KMUTT is a tentative attempt to study about its practical usefulness for language learners and its effect on the users’ proficiency development to fill some of the gaps. Two of the research purposes which will be presented in this article are to evaluate the proficiency in English listening of the KMUTT SALC users and to investigate the significance of the SALC’s role in autonomous learning, particularly in developing English listening proficiency. The first hypothesis of this research is that the listening proficiency of the SALC user sis different from the listening proficiency of the non-users. The second hypothesis is that the 5 factors, i.e. the number of days, the frequency, the time and length of their visits as well as the number of materials that they practice will differentiate their listening proficiency.

The researcher finds that the subjects’ proficiency in English listening have significantly increased after they practiced in the SALC. By the F-test, it is found that the five factors above do not cause significant difference in the subjects’ proficiency development. This study also finds that the SALC has a supporting role in autonomous learning.