Int.J.Curr.Res.Aca.Rev.2020; 8(6): 13-25 13 International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review ISSN: 2347-3215 (Online) Volume 8 Number 6 (June-2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcrar.com doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcrar.2020.806.003 Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions towards Teaching Listening Skills in CLT Classrooms: the Case of First Year Students in Wolaita Sodo University Firew Dejene Becho* and Ayele Eyob Kenta Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Department of English Language and Literature: Wolaita Sodo University *Corresponding author Abstract Article Info English language plays an important role in educational system and business communication in many countries. So, the need for good communication skills in English has created an immense demand for quality English language teaching. With this in mind, the current study was conducted with objective to determine teachers‟ and students‟ percept ion towards teaching listening skills in EFL classrooms since it was one of least explored area in Ethiopian context. To achieve the study objectives, a descriptive research design was employed. Regarding, the data collection tools: questionnaire was used to collect data from students (40), and randomly selected eight (8) teachers‟ who were teaching English courses were interviewed. Data gathered through both instruments were organized, and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques; finally, interpreted thematically. The major findings of the study show that students considered learning listening skill as a difficult language skill mainly due to its pronunciation and often fail to benefit from classroom instruction in English. This is because both teachers and students did not seem familiar with listening strategies since there is shortage of relevant materials and facilities for teaching listening skills. Finally, recommendations were forwarded. Accepted: 04 May 2020 Available Online: 20 June 2020 Keywords Listening skill, Attitude, English as foreign language, CLT approach. Introduction Background English has an important role in educational system and business communication in many countries. It is being used as lingua franca for international communications, likewise; in Ethiopia it is one of compulsory subjects in lower grades and a medium of instruction in secondary and higher institutions (MoE, 2005). The need for good communication skills in English has created an immense demand for quality English language teaching. In Ethiopia, there is also a huge demand for good English command as it gives wider access to employment and provides opportunity to access most scientific materials. Listening skill is one of macro- language skills a learners is required to develop for successful communication in and outside classrooms (Crystal, 1992). Because listening skill is one of the main communication tools through which we can discover opinions of others, enrich our relationships, and broaden our knowledge of the world. More importantly, in the context of higher institution where learners invest much of their time listening to classroom lectures, instructions and involve in academic communications, the need to have competency in listening skill is unquestionable. In contrary, it has taken many years to give the listening skill the importance it deserves in second and foreign