Learners' perceptions and experiences help conceptualize how and why they use and prefer specific language learning strategies and language use when acquiring language skills. This preliminary study explored the opinions and experiences of 25 Japanese university students reflecting on three years of study in an English program, seeking their insights on factors that helped improve their speaking and listening skills. Learners reported that opportunities to speak English in class, diverse activities, and the socialization effect of speaking with other students during class were major contributing factors to improving their speaking ability. Learners perceived improvements in listening ability as primarily achieved by listening to teachers speaking in TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) preparation classes and by listening to other learners speaking English during class. These findings demonstrate that learners' perceptions of language skill development can be a valuable resource that teachers can utilize when designing and implementing speaking and listening activities.
