Factors Related to Passage Length: Implications for Second Language Listening Comprehension

Despite its importance in the development of second language (L2) proficiency, there is little research on listening comprehension in a second language. Evidence for the role of most factors that may impact second language listening is sparse. One practical factor often mentioned in relation to the difficulty of L2 listening passages is length, but there are several problems with characterizing the amount of information in a passage this way. We summarize available research on the effects of passage length in L2 listening comprehension and describe the relationship between passage length and other important factors and highlight areas in need of more research.