Improving English Language Majors' Listening Competence through Film-Based Instruction: An Empirical Study at University of Phan Thiet

Abstract

In order to improve the listening skills of third-year English-majored students at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Phan Thiet University, a study is conducted using English-language films with an experimental group of 30 students, compared against a control group of 30 students, through pre-tests and post-tests. The 10-week experiment took place during the first semester of the 2024–2025 academic year, using 10 English-language films (two films per week) as data collection tools. Post-test results affirmed that English films are an effective teaching aid. Moreover, the sig. (2-tailed) value was 0.000—lower than the threshold (p < 0.05)—indicating a marked improvement in the experimental group’s outcomes compared to the control group. In particular, the experimental group’s correct-answer rate rose from 39% to 69%, an increase of 30%, whereas the control group’s rate only went from 38% to 54%, an increase of 16%. Data from the tests, attitude surveys, and classroom observations show that English films not only boost learner engagement but also provide authentic communicative contexts. The study recommends formally integrating films into the curriculum as a key instructional tool.