The Effect of LyricsTraining on Listening Achievement and Listening Anxiety in Foreign Language Education

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of LyricsTraining on the English listening achievement and listening anxiety of 7th grade middle school students. The research was conducted during the first semester of the 2023–2024 academic year at a public middle school located in a mid-sized city in Türkiye. A quasi-experimental design involving pre-test, post-test, and retention test was employed. In the experimental group, listening activities designed using LyricsTraining were implemented, while the control group followed the activities included in the 7th grade English textbook provided by the Ministry of National Education. The data were collected through a Listening Achievement Test and a Listening Anxiety Scale, and analyzed using Mixed Design ANOVA and ANCOVA. According to the results, there was no statistically significant difference between the post-test scores of the experimental and control groups. However, the results of the retention test revealed that the experimental group using LyricsTraining demonstrated more effective retention of listening skills compared to the control group. In addition, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the post-test listening anxiety scores of the experimental group. This indicates that LyricsTraining is an effective tool in reducing students’ listening anxiety. The findings suggest that LyricsTraining enhances the long-term retention of listening skills and reduces anxiety levels among students. In this regard, it is recommended that LyricsTraining be used more frequently and at regular intervals to increase its effectiveness.