Listening discrimination training to improve phoneme recognition

Abstract

Auditory discrimination training is a technique that enables students to recognize and interpret differences between similar sounds in the English language. This study analyzed the perceptions of students in the Bachelor’s Degree in the Pedagogy of National and Foreign Languages regarding this technique. Consequently, the study sought to understand the scope of this training based on the students’ direct experiences. To achieve this objective, a qualitative approach was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate students in the program, which provided insight into their individual perspectives on the technique’s usefulness. Additionally, the study organized a focus group to gather collective reflections on the use of this tool and assess how it influenced the development of listening comprehension during academic sessions. The experiences gathered showed that students appreciated the technique because it facilitated phonetic identification, reduced auditory confusion, and strengthened their confidence in communication. Based on these findings, the study offered valuable insights to promote the reflective and ongoing application of this technique in the classroom. Finally, the research concluded that the incorporation of listening discrimination training significantly enriched the English language teaching-learning process.