THE ROLE OF LISTENING ACTIVITY PLANNING AT SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Listening is a crucial yet often overlooked skill in English as a Second Language (ESL) education. While reading, writing, and speaking receive primary focus in most curricula, listening is frequently reduced to repetitive, uninspiring exercises involving scripted audio recordings. This article challenges that status quo by introducing ten innovative, interactive listening activities designed specifically for intermediate ESL learners. The activities combine movement, competition, music, media, and peer interaction to stimulate learner engagement and reinforce listening comprehension. Additionally, the article is grounded in schema theory, emphasizing the role of cognitive structures in enhancing language acquisition and processing.