Listening and Speaking Skills in English Language Learning: A Contemporary Review of EFL Contexts

Abstract

Listening and speaking skills are fundamental to English language learning and play a crucial role in developing learners’ communicative competence, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. Despite its importance, many EFL learners still struggle to understand spoken English and express ideas effectively in real-world communicative situations. This article presents a contemporary review of recent research on listening and speaking skills in EFL contexts, with particular attention to the challenge’s learners face and the instructional practices that support oral language development. Using a library research approach, the study systematically collected, examined, and synthesized relevant peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025 from national and international academic journals. Approximately 23 studies were reviewed through content analysis to identify recurring themes related to listening comprehension, speaking anxiety, communicative competence, integrated-skill instruction, and technology-enhanced learning. The review reveals that listening and speaking are highly interconnected skills that develop most effectively through authentic language exposure, communicative practice, and learner-centered pedagogical approaches. The findings further indicate that limited exposure to authentic spoken input and speaking anxiety remain significant barriers to the development of oral communication among EFL learners. In response to these challenges, the literature highlights the effectiveness of integrated listening-speaking activities, collaborative learning tasks, constructive feedback practices, and digital learning technologies in enhancing learners’ oral proficiency and confidence. This review underscores the importance of adopting communicative and integrated instructional approaches to support meaningful language use and foster the sustainable development of oral communication in EFL settings.