THE POSITION AND ROLE OF LISTENING SKILLS IN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: BUSINESS STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES

Abstract

This paper deals with the role of listening skills in the process of learning English as a foreign language, developing language competences and improving the level of English knowledge for the needs of successful young people in a modern business environment. The broader thematic framework of this research is the development of integrated language skills in teaching English for specific purposes to business students of higher vocational schools in Serbia. In order to determine the role of listening skills in teaching, the following is examined: listening comprehension of professional, complex and long texts; the presence of the teacher as a source of auditory text; student motivation; the role of implicit extracurricular listening skills; the importance of using audio-visual content and exposure to authentic language material in the acquisition of the English language. The theoretical postulates were verified by the research results based on the questionnaire answered by the respondents – business students at the Belgrade Business and Arts Academy for Applied Studies. The results were quantitatively processed using the statistical method, and interpreted and analysed in relation to the theoretical concept presented in the work. Insights gained were used to draw conclusions and to further design and improve the research and teaching contents.