INNOVATIVE, ENGAGEMENT-ORIENTED LISTENING TECHNIQUES IN MILITARY EFL: A MIXED-METHODS CLASSROOM STUDY IN AZERBAIJAN

Abstract Listening is a core component of communicative competence in English language teaching (ELT), yet it is frequently treated as a passive, test-oriented skill, particularly in highly structured educational contexts. This study investigates the impact of innovative, engagement-oriented listening techniques on cadets’ listening performance and learner engagement in military general English classrooms in Azerbaijan. Drawing on the behavioural, emotional and cognitive models of learner engagement, the study integrates recent ELT research (2015–2025) with classroom-based empirical data. Using a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design, the study involved two intact first-year military EFL classes (N = 100): an experimental group and a comparison group. Over a six-week intervention, the experimental group received listening instruction incorporating multimodal input, gamified tasks, interactive video activities, drama-based listening, and limited forms of flipped and student-generated listening tasks, while the comparison group followed standard textbook-based instruction. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-listening tests and an engagement questionnaire, complemented by classroom observations, learner reflections, and semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that while both groups demonstrated improvement in listening performance over time, the experimental group achieved significantly greater gains. Moreover, substantial increases were observed in behavioural, emotional, and cognitive engagement among cadets exposed to engagement-oriented listening techniques. Qualitative evidence further suggests a shift from test-like listening toward more active, collaborative, and strategy-rich listening practices. The study demonstrates that engagement-oriented listening instruction can be successfully adapted to military EFL contexts and offers pedagogical implications for designing active listening lessons within disciplined learning environments.