Listening comprehension is a vital skill for secondary level students, supporting both academic achievement and everyday communication.
Strengthening this ability helps learners follow instructions, understand context, and engage more meaningfully in discussions. In this guide, you’ll find 24 engaging and effective activities to improve listening comprehension in the classroom.
These strategies range from music-based exercises and interactive games to collaborative tasks and routine-building techniques—each tailored to suit the interests and developmental level of teens.
What to Expect in the O-Level English Exam
The Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level English Language Syllabus 1184 is structured around four key examination papers, each targeting a specific skill set:
- Paper 1: Writing assesses students’ ability to edit written texts, produce situational writing (e.g., emails, reports), and craft extended compositions on given topics.
- Paper 2: Comprehension evaluates reading comprehension through responses to multiple texts—including narrative, non-narrative, and visual texts—and includes a summary writing task.
- Paper 3: Listening requires students to engage with a range of audio recordings, testing their ability to extract main ideas, infer meaning, and take notes accurately. This section is crucial in developing attentive and evaluative listening skills, as students must process both repeated and single-play recordings.
- Paper 4: Oral Communication measures spoken fluency, planned response delivery, and interactive discussion skills, all of which depend heavily on a student’s ability to listen actively and respond appropriately in real time.
Together, these components aim to ensure students are not only functionally proficient but also adaptable communicators in academic, social, and professional environments. The listening component, in particular, is essential for developing the real-world skill of making sense of spoken English in varied and dynamic situations—an ability that this article seeks to enhance through engaging and practical activities.
Music & Audio-Based Learning
Music, stories, and spoken media are excellent tools to help teenagers improve their listening comprehension. These activities feel less like formal classroom work and more like everyday experiences, making them especially effective for students who struggle with traditional learning methods.
1. Analyse Song Lyrics
Music is a universal language that resonates with teens, making it an ideal entry point for listening exercises. In this activity, students listen closely to songs and break down the lyrics to explore themes, tone, vocabulary, and emotional context.
They might be asked to highlight figurative language, identify the speaker’s mood, or paraphrase a stanza in their own words.
Analysing lyrics not only sharpens listening comprehension but also improves vocabulary, critical thinking, and appreciation for language nuance. Teachers can also compare different genres or artists to spark discussion and deeper analysis.
2. Listen And Summarise Audio Stories
Listening to audio stories or short podcasts allows students to practise focused, sustained listening while also developing summarisation skills. They are encouraged to jot down key points, identify main ideas, and retell the story in their own words—either verbally or in writing.
This activity helps students distinguish between essential and non-essential details, which is a key skill in both exams and everyday communication. Teachers can use stories with different lengths or topics to match students’ interests and language levels, ensuring that everyone can participate meaningfully.
3. Predict The Story From Audio Clips
This activity asks students to listen to the beginning of an audio clip—such as a story, news report, or dialogue—and then predict what will happen next. This encourages them to actively listen for cues such as tone, context, or character intentions.
They might be asked to write down their predictions or discuss them in pairs before listening to the full clip. This type of anticipatory thinking enhances comprehension by prompting students to engage with the material, ask questions, and stay alert for confirmation or contradiction of their ideas.
4. Find The Hidden Phrase
Designed to sharpen attention to detail, this activity involves playing an audio clip with a “hidden” phrase or keyword buried naturally in the content. Students must listen attentively to catch the phrase, which may be spoken subtly or surrounded by distracting information.
The challenge lies in recognising it amidst background noise, fast speech, or unfamiliar vocabulary. It’s an excellent way to develop concentration and improve students’ ability to filter relevant information—skills that are crucial not just in English but across all subjects that require attentive listening.
Critical Thinking & Comprehension Exercises
To truly understand what they hear, students need more than just good ears—they need sharp thinking skills. These listening activities are designed to encourage deeper reflection, helping students move beyond surface-level understanding.
5. Listening With A Purpose (Guided Questions)
In this exercise, students are provided with specific questions before listening to a clip or conversation. These questions guide their attention towards key points—such as who the speaker is, what their purpose might be, or what evidence they provide.
For example, if students are listening to a short talk or podcast, they might be asked, “What is the speaker’s main argument?” or “What evidence supports their point?”
This encourages purposeful listening and helps students extract relevant information instead of trying to remember everything. It’s an effective way to make listening tasks more focused and less overwhelming.
6. Take Structured Listening Notes
Instead of simply jotting down words at random, students are taught how to take structured notes during listening exercises. One method is the Cornell Note-Taking System, which divides the page into sections: keywords or questions on one side, main notes on the other, and a summary at the bottom.
This encourages learners to organise ideas as they listen, improving both short-term focus and long-term retention. It also provides a useful revision tool, helping students make connections between what they heard and what they need to remember.
7. Describe What You Hear
In this task, students listen to an unfamiliar sound or a segment of audio and are asked to describe it in as much detail as possible. They might explain who they think is speaking, what emotions are being expressed, or what kind of setting the audio takes place in.
This helps build descriptive language and sharpens interpretation skills, as they learn to express what they understand using rich vocabulary. It’s especially useful for expanding expressive language and training students to listen beyond just words—for tone, pace, and background sounds too.
Interactive And Collaborative Activities
Sometimes, the best learning happens when students work together. These peer-based tasks not only make listening more dynamic and enjoyable, but they also encourage teenagers to practise real-time interpretation and response.
8. Role-Playing Real-World Scenarios
In this activity, students take on roles in everyday situations—such as ordering food, attending an interview, or solving a mystery—and act them out based on listening cues or prompts. They must carefully interpret what’s being said, then respond appropriately using their own words.
This builds confidence in spoken communication while sharpening their ability to listen actively in context. It’s a fun and practical way for students to apply listening skills in real-life settings.
9. Telephone Game: Listening For Accuracy
A light-hearted yet effective way to train accurate listening, the Telephone Game involves students sitting in a line or circle. The first person whispers a sentence to the next, who then passes it on—and so on—until the last person says the sentence aloud.
The group then compares it to the original version to spot what changed. This game highlights the importance of listening carefully and reinforces how easily information can get distorted if we’re not fully focused.
10. “Draw What You Hear” Challenge
In pairs, one student describes a picture or scene without showing it, while the other draws what they think it looks like based purely on the verbal description.
The focus here is on clarity, descriptive language, and careful listening. Once complete, they compare the drawing with the original image. This playful activity sharpens both expressive and receptive language skills and brings plenty of laughs along the way.
11. Conduct And Record Peer Interviews
Students take turns interviewing one another on set topics—such as hobbies, school experiences, or future goals—using prepared questions and follow-up prompts. They’re encouraged to listen actively, picking up on interesting points and responding naturally rather than sticking rigidly to a script.
Recording the interviews allows for playback, where students can reflect on their listening habits and communication style. This activity is excellent for building confidence and improving conversational fluency.
12. Describe The Picture (With a Twist)
Here, students are given a picture to study, which they must describe in detail to a partner who can’t see it. The partner listens and attempts to draw or recreate the image based solely on what they hear.
The “twist” lies in how detailed or obscure the image may be, encouraging students to use specific, clear language while their partner practises focused listening. It’s an engaging way to develop visualisation, descriptive vocabulary, and listening precision.
Routine Building & Practical Listening
Listening skills, much like any other habit, become stronger with regular and purposeful practice. By weaving listening activities into students’ everyday routines, they begin to see listening not just as a classroom task, but as a valuable life skill.
The following activities help form a consistent structure that promotes attentiveness, reflection, and long-term comprehension.
13. Predict The Story
This activity invites students to listen to the first part of a story or audio segment and then pause to predict what might happen next.
They can share their guesses in writing or through group discussions. This encourages close listening to details like tone, mood, and character behaviour—while also nurturing imagination and logical thinking.
14. Storytelling
Listening to a story and then retelling it in their own words helps students practise memory recall, sequencing, and interpretation.
They might retell to a partner, write a summary, or present it to the class. This technique strengthens comprehension and builds confidence in both spoken and written communication. It also allows students to explore different storytelling styles and voices.
15. The Hidden Phrase
In this recurring class challenge, the teacher embeds a “hidden phrase” or specific set of words into a piece of audio content.
Students are told to listen carefully and identify the phrase when they hear it. It’s a fun and competitive way to sharpen listening focus, especially when done regularly as a mini warm-up activity. Over time, students become more attuned to subtle cues and changes in speech patterns.
Gamified Listening Activities
Learning doesn’t have to be all serious—especially when it comes to listening. By incorporating games into lessons, students can sharpen their listening skills while enjoying a more relaxed and playful environment.
These activities strike a balance between fun and focus, encouraging participation from even the most reserved students.
16. Teacher Modeling & Reflection
Sometimes, the most powerful way for students to learn is by watching others—especially their teachers. When educators consistently demonstrate strong listening habits, students are more likely to adopt these behaviours themselves.
This section explores how modelling and reflective practices can encourage deeper, long-term listening development.
17. Peer Listening & Feedback Sessions
In these sessions, students take turns presenting short talks or sharing ideas while their peers listen closely. Afterwards, listeners provide constructive feedback—not just about the content, but also about how clearly the message was delivered.
This mutual exchange teaches students how to listen actively, give respectful critiques, and reflect on how they themselves are heard. It’s a great way to build classroom trust and develop interpersonal skills that go beyond academic learning.
18. Create a Class Podcast
Working together to produce a class podcast is a brilliant way to tie listening, speaking, and teamwork into one creative project. Students take on different roles—from scriptwriters and hosts to sound editors and interviewers.
Each step requires careful listening: understanding each other’s ideas, responding thoughtfully during recordings, and refining content during the editing process. It’s a fun and meaningful activity that builds real-world listening skills and gives students a platform to share their voices.
Conclusion About Activities To Improve Listening Comprehension
Improving listening comprehension at the secondary level isn’t just about worksheets or passive listening drills—it’s about creating a meaningful learning experience that prepares students for both academic success and real-world communication.
The 18 activities we’ve shared in this guide are designed to help your teen become a more attentive, responsive, and confident listener using methods that are practical, collaborative, and enjoyable.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Activities To Improve Listening Comprehension
Do Background Noises Affect Students’ Listening Comprehension During Activities?
Yes, background noise can significantly reduce students’ ability to focus and process spoken information accurately. A quiet, controlled environment helps ensure they catch key details and follow instructions effectively.
When Is The Best Time To Introduce Listening Comprehension Activities In A Lesson?
Listening activities work well at the beginning to activate prior knowledge or as a core task to build understanding. They can also be used at the end to reinforce learning or assess comprehension.
Are Games Effective For Teaching Listening Comprehension To Older Students?
Yes, games can make listening practice more engaging and challenging, especially when tailored to teen interests. They promote active participation, quick thinking, and real-time processing of spoken language.
How Often Should Students Practise Listening Activities To See Real Improvement?
Consistent practice, embedded in daily or weekly activities, can lead to noticeable improvement in listening skills. Short, regular sessions are more effective than occasional long activities.
