I think there is a number of factors that can improve students' academic listening skills: listeners should use many strategies simultaneously and in accordance with the task at hand. They may listen regularly to a radio broadcast (metacognitive), take notes on the key

points (cognitive) and then meet fellow students in the cafe (for their doughnut) and tell them all about what they just listened to (socio-affective). Students need frequent and systematic training in these strategies,and opportunities to put them into practice, they need some training in how to get the main ideas, how to take notes, and how to be active participants by having their own share and judgement. Of course students sould take notes and concantrate on the topic, but learning should not be static, some topics require interaction and discussion... It also helps to integrate the new content.