LISTENING COMPREHENSION PROBLEMS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM A Study Among University Students in English Language Education Study Program Section Articles

Abstract

Listening comprehension is a foundational skill in second-language acquisition and plays a critical
role in academic success, particularly for students in English Language Education programs.
Despite its importance, many learners face persistent challenges in processing spoken English due
to linguistic, cognitive, psychological, and contextual barriers. This study employs a descriptive
qualitative design to explore multidimensional listening difficulties experienced by 15 university
students. Data were obtained through open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews
and analyzed thematically. This expanded version of the paper provides deeper theoretical
grounding, a more comprehensive literature review, enhanced discussion, a table of results, and a
graphical representation. Findings reveal major obstacles including limited vocabulary, accent
unfamiliarity, connected speech issues, listening anxiety, insufficient strategy use, fast speech rate,
and complex task formats. Recommendations for pedagogical improvement highlight the
importance of explicit strategy instruction, scaffolded listening activities, and increased exposure
to authentic materials. The study concludes by suggesting directions for further research aligned
with contemporary listening pedagogy.