The CATESOL Journal

Listening comprehension is an essential and challenging skill for language learners, and listening instruction can also be a challenge for language instructors, since they have little access to the listening process inside students’ minds. Greater knowledge about what learners perceive when they listen could help language teachers better tailor their instruction to student needs. In this mixed-methods study, students at 2 proficiency levels participated in a listening test based on Field’s paused transcription method (2008a, 2008c, 2011). Results were analyzed quantitatively on the basis of student and text level, word class, and articulation rate. Transcription errors were analyzed qualitatively to identify patterns of mishearing. Paused transcription is recommended as a classroom activity to identify and raise awareness of student listening challenges.