The use of mobile technology has been going through a period of rapid growth. Although the potential for mobile learning is huge, few studies have been conducted on mobile usability. The purpose of this study, thus, is to demonstrate the effects of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in listening skills. The study aims to 1) investigate whether participants improve their listening skills after taking a one semester college English course, 2) examine whether there are any significant differences in listening skills between the control group without mobile apps and the experimental group with mobile apps, and 3) investigate learners` perceptions towards mobile-based learning for developing listening abilities. The research data includes 1) the results of two sets of listening tests, and 2) learners` reflections on their experience of mobile listening activities outside of the class. In this study, there were 24 participants in the control group and 20 in the experimental group. The results provide evidence suggesting that contextualizing MALL practice can improve listening skills and reveal the merits and drawbacks of the application of mobile phones in a foreign language class. Based on the findings, educational implications for this experimental study and future research are suggested.