Widely considered to be a foundational work in the field of listening, Teaching and Researching Listening is among the most recommended textbooks in applied linguistics oral communication courses, and the most cited reference in current research on second language listening development. Known for its comprehensiveness, clarity, insight, and practical applications, this fourth edition has been substantially revised to reflect the latest research in the areas of linguistics, neuroscience, applied technologies, and teaching methodology, with expanded sections on teaching applications and explorations in social research related to listening.
This completely revised edition includes:
• Detailed overviews of the underlying processes of listening, with additional coverage of decoding processes
• Expansion of sections dealing with artificial intelligence (AI), speech recognition, and input enhancement software
• Emphasis on research of listening in spoken interaction and cross-cultural communication
• Clear templates for instructors and curriculum designers, with an expansive set of practical resources
• Guidance in using observational methods for exploring listening in a range of educational and professional contexts
• Website support, with presentation slides, infographics, and question banks for each chapter
This fourth edition of Teaching and Researching Listening serves as an authoritative and comprehensive survey of issues related to teaching and researching oral communication, providing value for language teachers, educational researchers, instructional designers, interpreters, and other language practitioners.
Contents
Introduction
SECTION I: Defining Listening
Chapter 1. Neurological Processing
Chapter 2. Linguistic Processing
Chapter 3. Semantic Processing
Chapter 4. Pragmatic Processing
Chapter 5. AI Processing
Chapter 6. Listening in Language Acquisition
SECTION II: Teaching Listening
Chapter 7. Approaches to Teaching Listening
Chapter 8. Input and Interaction
Chapter 9. Designing Instruction
Chapter 10. Listening Assessment
SECTION III: Researching Listening
Chapter 11. Researching Listening Processes
Chapter 12. Researching Listening Outcomes
SECTION IV: RESOURCES
Resources for Teaching Listening
Resources for Researching Listening
Biography
Michael Rost is an independent researcher and instructional designer, and the author of numerous academic articles and books on listening, speaking, interaction, and language acquisition, including Listening in Language Learning and Active Listening. He is also the author and series editor of several longstanding textbook and courseware series, including Pearson English Interactive.
“In this fourth edition of his already widely admired book on listening, Michael Rost has greatly extended the boundaries of previous work, focusing on new areas such as neuroscience, the use of AI in instruction, and the implementation of research in teacher education. Undoubtedly, researchers, teacher educators and teachers alike will be inspired by such an authoritative resource.”
Anne Burns, University of New South Wales, Sydney, and Curtin University, Perth, Australia
“Teaching and Researching Listening provides a comprehensive, engaging account of listening which updates our understanding of key concepts and issues and explores the impact of important new developments such as AI. Its focus on both theory and practice makes it an ideal resource for teacher educators, language teachers and researchers.”
Neil Murray, University of Warwick, UK
“Michael Rost is a proven expert in the field of listening. His latest book is a tour-de-force. It offers a comprehensive and accessible account of listening in a second language from the perspectives of theory, pedagogy and research. This is a must-have book, which I know I will be referring to for years to come.”
Rod Ellis, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
“The new edition of Michael Rost’s book on listening is carefully crafted, addressing crucial issues and presenting innovative ideas in this relatively under researched area. The author adeptly navigates readers through logically structured chapters, seamlessly blending theory with practice. This approach makes the book a must-read for both teachers and researchers.”
Istvan Kecskes, State University of New York, Albany, USA
“Teaching and Researching Listening is the most comprehensive textbook on second language listening available today. This indispensable resource has something of value for experienced academics, graduate students, and researchers in the field of second language listening given its up-to-date treatment of theory, pedagogy, and research into the complex skill of listening comprehension.”
David Beglar, Temple University, Japan
“In the fourth edition of this classic, Rost once again authoritatively covers the many dimensions of listening for language teachers, researchers, and app developers. The content ranges from foundations in neuroscience, language processing, and acquisition to the more practical domains of language teaching and assessment. Comprehensive and comprehensible, if you have just one book on listening in a second language, this should be it.”
Philip Hubbard, Stanford University, USA
“This book has been incredibly important for L2 listening researchers and teachers since the first edition was published over 20 years ago. What’s special about it is that it is aimed at both researchers AND teachers, and Rost makes the information in the book accessible and relevant for practitioners, students, and researchers (not an easy task!).”
Elvis Wagner, Temple University, USA
“In the 4th edition of Teaching and Researching Listening, Michael Rost provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the complexities of listening in second language acquisition (SLA) and teaching. This important work integrates research from linguistics, SLA, language teaching and technology, and offers valuable guidance for language educators and researchers. I recommend the book to language educators, researchers, and anyone interested in the intricacies of listening in SLA and communication.”
Vahid Aryadoust, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Praise for the Third Edition:
"This book is the most comprehensive reference on L2 listening to date and is an invaluable resource for graduate students and academics. Rost offers his interpretation of theories and works that have defined and established the field, along with insights drawn from latest research to move it forward."
Christine C. M. Goh, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
