Exploring Metacognitive Strategies Through Storytelling for Preschoolers’ Listening Comprehension Skills

Listening comprehension is an essential skill for effective learning and communication in today’s digital era. Research indicates that early exposure to listening activities significantly influences the development of these skills, particularly in preschool-aged children, given their rapidly evolving cognitive and linguistic capacities. This qualitative study investigates the efficacy of employing metacognitive strategies within storytelling sessions to enhance listening comprehension among preschoolers in Kepong, Malaysia. Data collection involved a combination of interview, checklist and anecdotal observations across three storytelling sessions, capturing the engagement of six participating children. The study was structured in two phases: Phase 1 encompassed the collection of baseline data regarding teaching methodologies and encountered challenges, while Phase 2 focused on the implementation of tailored metacognitive strategies to assess English listening comprehension skills among the children. The findings reveal that the integration of metacognitive techniques positively impacts preschoolers’ listening comprehension abilities. This research contributes to the existing literature by offering insights into the specific application of metacognition within storytelling contexts, highlighting its potential to foster enhanced comprehension skills among young learners. By addressing this gap in the literature, this study underscores the significance of metacognitive approaches in early childhood education, particularly within multicultural settings such as those found in Kepong, Malaysia.