Making Sense of Listening in MYP Language Acquisition

If you’re new to the MYP, you’ve probably noticed that Listening Comprehension is a big deal in Language Acquisition. But unlike traditional language classrooms that rely on slow, scripted recordings, the MYP takes a far more authentic, multimodal approach, and that’s what makes it so engaging (and at times, a bit challenging to plan for!).

Let’s break down what this actually means in practice.

1. How Listening is Taught

In MYP Language Acquisition, students don’t just “listen”, but they engage. Listening tasks are built around authentic multimodal texts, which means anything that combines sound and visuals, like video clips, podcasts, songs, short interviews, or even social media reels, in the target language.

The goal is for students to interpret both what’s being said and how it’s being communicated. They might notice gestures, tone, background sounds, or cultural references that all add meaning. Teachers guide students to identify explicit information (facts, opinions, key details) as well as implicit meaning — those subtle cues about culture, mood, or intent.

In other words, listening is not just about catching words. It’s about understanding people.

2. How Listening is Assessed

Listening is formally assessed under Criterion A in the MYP, and like all MYP criteria, it’s assessed against clear descriptors. Students demonstrate how well they can identify, interpret, and analyse what they hear.

Both formative and summative assessments use spoken and multimodal texts, and students always respond in the target language. In the MYP eAssessment, listening is combined with reading comprehension, meaning students engage with paired audio-visual and written texts before answering a range of short questions.

The takeaway? Assessment isn’t about perfection, but it’s about showing growth in real-world comprehension.

The Listening Criteria for ‘Emergent’ students

3. What Kind of Texts Are Used

Gone are the days of sterile textbook dialogues! The MYP encourages the use of authentic materials, like podcasts, news clips, music, interviews, ads, and even YouTube videos, as long as they’re culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate.

These resources mirror real-life communication, allowing students to experience the rhythm, tone, and expression of genuine speech. Students learn to navigate language as it actually sounds in the world, which is messy, expressive, and alive.

4. Speed and Complexity

The pace of listening tasks increases as students progress through the six MYP phases.

• Emergent (Phases 1–2): Texts are slower, simpler, and more predictable.

• Capable (Phases 3–4): Students hear some natural-speed recordings and begin dealing with more complex ideas.

• Proficient (Phases 5–6): Texts are fully authentic, at natural speed, and rich with nuance, the kind of language you’d hear in real conversations, podcasts, or films.

It’s a gradual journey and scaffolding is key. Teachers can support learners by pre-teaching vocabulary, using visuals, and replaying clips strategically to build confidence.

Here is an example of some listening comprehension exercises that I created for my EAL class.

5. Accents and Authenticity

One of the most refreshing (and inclusive) aspects of the MYP is that students are exposed to a range of accents and voices. The focus isn’t on the “perfect” or “native” accent, but it’s on comprehension and cultural awareness.

After all, language learning is about connecting with people across the world, not just mastering a single dialect. By hearing different accents, students learn to tune their ears to the global nature of language, which is an essential skill for internationally minded learners.

Final Thoughts

Listening in the MYP is dynamic, human, and deeply cultural. It’s not just a skill to be tested, but it’s a window into the world.

As MYP teachers, our role is to create listening experiences that feel real. These are moments that connect students to authentic voices, stories, and perspectives. When we do that, we’re not only teaching comprehension, but we’re also teaching empathy, curiosity, and intercultural understanding.

So go ahead and swap that scripted dialogue for a real interview, play that song, or show that vlog from halfway across the world. Your students (and their ears) will thank you!

If you want to hear some different accents, then try these 100 listening activities for newcomers (A1-level, Beginner Level, Phase 1) students.