DIFFICULTIES IN LISTENING COMPREHENSION ENCOUNTERED BY STUDENTS OF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF MALANG

Abstract

This study described the difficulties in listening comprehension encountered by and strategies used by freshmen of the English Department, in a university in Malang. This study employed a descriptive quantitative method. Questionnaires with close and open-ended questions were used as the research instrument. The subjects of this study were 42 students of the English Department who had completed their first semester. The study revealed that several problems occurred in the teaching and learning of listening, namely problems related to listeners’ performance, listening materials, students’ physical limits, and supporting equipment. Based on the data obtained, two major issues faced by the students were the students’ performance and listening materials. A different phonological system, which was related to the materials and guessing unknown words, seemed to also affect their listening comprehension. The study also found that the students applied several strategies to develop their listening mastery. Most of them (78.6%) conducted independent study outside the class. Most of them preferred listening to English songs and watching English movies. Some loved to listen to news and watch YouTube videos.