STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES TOWARD ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION AND ITS ADDRESSING STRATEGIES

Abstract

The aim of this research was to reveal students’ difficulties toward listening comprehension and its resolutions that took place in the intensive English language class at Edi Islamic Boarding School, Salatiga. The subjects of this research were 30 students and 8 English teachers of the course. The method used in this research was descriptive design with the quantitative data obtained from questionnaire and the qualitative data from observation and interview. After validating the data on the listening comprehension difficulties from both students’ and teachers’ sides, it was found that the difficulties were majorly in relation to the accents of the native speakers, atmosphere of the class, speaker’s fast pace, students’ limited English vocabulary, and students’ lack of concentration. Besides, the listening strategies proposed by the students and the teachers suggest the use of English song and movie media, the mixed English-Bahasa language interaction at class, the students’ mood and interest build-up, and more practice of speed listening in order to overcome the difficulties.