OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
Rationale of the study
In today's globalized world, English has become a vital second language, facilitating communication and business across many countries This growing importance makes English learning essential, particularly in Vietnam, where it is a mandatory subject in schools and universities.
Among four skills of English, listening is considered to be the most challenging because of the complex process to identify and to understand what the speaker said
As a researcher, I would like to present the dissertation titled: “A study on difficulties and solutions in English listening comprehension of first-year English majors at Thuongmai University” for some reasons
Learning listening skills is essential for enhancing communication abilities, as regular exposure to various forms of English enables meaningful interactions Effective listening is crucial for comprehending language inputs, which are necessary for successful language acquisition Furthermore, developing listening skills not only broadens students' perspectives but also facilitates the improvement of other language skills, including speaking and writing.
Listening comprehension in English can be challenging for non-native speakers, particularly because high school education often prioritizes preparation for university entrance exams that emphasize reading and writing skills, leaving listening skills underdeveloped.
After nearly four years of studying at Thuongmai University, I have observed that many first-year English majors struggle significantly with listening comprehension This highlights the need to identify the challenges they face and propose effective solutions to assist these freshmen in overcoming their difficulties in mastering English listening skills.
Previous studies
In the world, a number of studies have been conducted concerning students’ listening comprehension
A study by Khamprated (2012) investigated the English listening and speaking challenges encountered by students in private vocational schools, identifying key factors contributing to these difficulties Utilizing a questionnaire for quantitative data collection, the research revealed that participants frequently struggled with various English listening issues, including local accents, rapid speech, cultural differences, and insufficient grammar and vocabulary skills.
Hamouda (2013) conducted a mixed-methods study titled “An Investigation of Listening Comprehension Problems Encountered by Saudi Students in the EL Listening Classroom,” which utilized both a questionnaire and interviews to gather data The research involved the participation of Saudi students, aiming to identify the challenges they face in listening comprehension within the English language learning environment.
A study involving 60 first-year English language and translation students at Qassim University, aged 20 to 22, identified listening comprehension as their weakest skill The research revealed that these students face various challenges in listening comprehension, including issues related to speech delivery such as the speed of speech, poor quality of recordings, and diverse accents of speakers Additionally, listener-related problems like lack of concentration, anxiety, and insufficient vocabulary further hinder their listening skills.
In their 2017 study, Alrawashdeh and Al-Zayed examined the challenges faced by English teachers in teaching listening comprehension Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative data gathered from teacher questionnaires and informal interviews, the researchers identified three primary obstacles: the learning environment, the lack of available resources and teaching aids, and the teachers' proficiency levels, all of which hindered effective English instruction.
Fouad Abdalhamid's thesis, titled “Listening Comprehension Strategies of Arabic Speaking ESL Learners,” employed various statistical methods, including factor analysis, multiple regression, and t-tests, to analyze questionnaire data on listening strategies The study aimed to identify the strategies utilized by participants and explore the correlation between these strategies and their listening comprehension abilities Findings revealed that cognitive strategies emerged as the strongest predictor of listening comprehension, followed by socio-affective strategies, while metacognitive strategies had the least impact on comprehension outcomes.
A study conducted by Nguyen Luong Ha Lien and Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, English lecturers at Quy Nhon University, examined the challenges faced by non-English majors in developing their English listening skills The research, titled "Methods of Improving Listening Skills for English Non-Majored Students," involved a survey of 400 randomly selected freshmen and utilized descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis to evaluate the data Findings indicated that students struggle with listening comprehension due to a lack of vocabulary, insufficient background knowledge, lengthy audio texts, and unfamiliar topics To address these issues, the study recommends enhancing vocabulary, diversifying listening topics, and exposing students to various accents.
The 2019 study "Insights into Listening Comprehension Problems," conducted by Thao Quoc Tran and Tham My Duong at a high school in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, involved 368 eleventh-grade students and 8 EFL teachers Participants completed a questionnaire and engaged in semi-structured interviews, with the resulting quantitative and qualitative data analyzed through descriptive statistics The findings aligned with the theories proposed by Anderson (1995) and Goh, highlighting key issues in listening comprehension among students.
(2000) that listening comprehension problems which listeners often cope with are
The article discusses the three phases of perception, parsing, and utilization in the context of English listening comprehension It highlights the challenges students face, including phonological and lexical issues due to high speech rates and difficult vocabulary, as well as semantic and syntactic difficulties stemming from long utterances Additionally, students encounter discoursal problems related to implied meanings, unfamiliar topics, and the organization of ideas To improve listening comprehension, the article suggests that students develop note-taking skills, activate their background knowledge, and infer meanings from context.
Aims of the study
This study attempts to explore a broad view and in-depth knowledge about the understanding of how freshmen at English faculty at TMU cope with listening difficulties
Firstly, the study identify the students’ perception to the importance of studying listening comprehension
Many first-year English majors at TMU struggle with listening comprehension skills This article aims to explore the common challenges they face in learning to listen effectively and to identify the underlying causes of these difficulties.
Finally, based on the major findings, the study would provide some possible solutions for students to minimize the difficulties and enhance effectiveness in listening comprehension.
Research questions
The study aims to answer the following research questions:
1 What problems do freshmen of English Faculty at Thuongmai University face with when listening to English?
2 What are the solutions for students to overcome these listening comprehension problems?
Scope of the study
This study examines the challenges faced by freshmen at the English Faculty of Thuongmai University, aiming to identify common difficulties in their listening skills It also proposes effective solutions to help these students overcome these obstacles and enhance their listening abilities.
This study focuses on listening comprehension, acknowledging the constraints of time and knowledge that prevent a comprehensive analysis of the topic The research involved a sample of 100 students, randomly selected from four classes within the English Faculty To gather data, survey questionnaires were distributed via social media, utilizing a Google Form for responses.
Research Methodology
This study employs a quantitative method through survey questionnaires to assess first-year English Faculty students' attitudes towards their listening skills and the challenges they face in English listening comprehension The convenience and efficiency of questionnaires facilitate the collection of data, which is then analyzed to identify the difficulties and their underlying causes Based on the findings, the study aims to propose reasonable and effective solutions to enhance students' listening comprehension abilities.
Data collected from the questionnaires will be analyzed using Microsoft Excel software, allowing for effective organization and interpretation The findings will be visually represented through charts and tables, providing a clear overview that supports the results obtained from the survey questionnaires.
Organization of the study
The study on difficulties of first-year students in listening comprehension at English Faculty at Thuongmai University consists of four chapters
Chapter 1: Overview of the study
The first chapter is the introduction which begins with the background of the study, statement of the problem, the objective of the study
The researcher presents a review of related theories, concepts, and literature
This chapter presents the data and information obtained from survey questionnaires The results will also be discussed and analyzed
In this chapter, discussion and some suggested solutions are mentioned to
6 improve English listening comprehension and conclusion In addition, it gives summary and limitation of the study as well as suggestion for further study
LITERATURE REVIEW
Overview of listening comprehension
Several researchers and scholars provided various definitions of listening comprehension Here are a number of the definitions:
According to Gilakjani and Ahmadi (2011), listening comprehension is a dynamic process in which individuals selectively focus on specific elements of auditory input, construct meaning from the content, and relate what they hear to their existing knowledge Furthermore, Richard and Schmid (2002) elaborated on this concept, emphasizing its significance in understanding and processing spoken language.
“listening comprehension refers to the way of understanding speech in native or foreign language”
Listening comprehension, as defined by Vandergrift (1997), is a complex interactive process requiring listeners to engage with various elements, including sounds, intonation, linguistic structures, and social contexts He highlights that it is an active process, where learners must not only understand but also interpret and respond to messages in real-time.
Listening comprehension is a complex activity that requires mental effort for effective understanding It involves not only passive listening but also the active production of comprehended information According to Rost (2002), this process is interactive and dynamic, where listeners construct meaning through various factors, including sound discrimination, prior vocabulary knowledge, grammatical structures, and the use of stress and intonation Additionally, listeners utilize linguistic, paralinguistic, and non-linguistic clues within the context of spoken language to enhance their understanding.
Moreover, Nadig (2013) said that listening comprehension as the various
8 processes of understanding and making sense of spoken language These involve knowing speech sounds, comprehending the meaning of individual words, and understanding the syntax of sentences
Listening comprehension is a complex and often unconscious mental process that naturally develops during language learning Successful listeners play a vital role by activating different types of knowledge and applying their understanding to interpret the speaker's message accurately.
2.1.2 The significance of listening comprehension skill
Listening comprehension is a crucial receptive skill that serves as essential preparation for real-life listening experiences According to Scott and Ytreberg (1994), listening is the first skill that children develop, particularly before they have learned to read.
In everyday life, individuals primarily engage in listening, which accounts for 40-50% of communication time, as noted by Mendelson (1994) This listening occurs in various settings, such as at home where people absorb news and entertainment, and in educational environments where students focus on their lecturers.
Effective communication relies on the ability to understand spoken language, as it allows individuals to express their ideas and intentions while also comprehending the messages conveyed by others Listening comprehension plays a crucial role in verbal interactions, as it ensures that participants can engage meaningfully Without a clear understanding of what is being communicated, interactions may falter, highlighting the importance of listening skills in successful communication.
(1989) agreed that the communicating process will break down when the listeners fail to understand what the speakers say
Listening plays an increasingly vital role in foreign language classrooms, as highlighted by Nunan (2003) According to Rost (1994) and Ziane (2011), listening comprehension is essential, serving as the primary means through which learners receive input; without understanding this input, effective learning cannot occur.
Developing strong listening skills in English is crucial for learners, as it facilitates effective communication with foreigners, enhances radio listening, and supports academic study Listening serves as a foundational step in language acquisition, allowing students to engage with dialogues, conversations, and speeches through recordings This exposure to comprehensible input aids in accurate pronunciation and recognition of spoken words Without appropriate language input at the right level, the language learning process can become challenging.
Day and Park (2005) highlighted six different types of comprehension:
Literal comprehension involves grasping the surface meaning of a text, focusing on explicit information presented within it This includes identifying specific details such as dates, names, and other clear pieces of information directly stated in the material.
• Reorganizing: This type of question helps students go beyond the identification of isolated words or phrases, by requiring the hearer to make connections among propositions
Inference in reading comprehension extends beyond mere literal understanding, requiring students to integrate their textual knowledge with personal insights Researchers categorize inferences into two main types: local and global Local inferences occur at the sentence level, while global inferences involve constructing mental representations that capture overarching themes, morals, and deeper intentions of the text.
Prediction in listening comprehension extends beyond pre-listening questions; it also involves inquiries made after audio playback This approach encourages students to engage in a creative process, enhancing their understanding and retention of the material.
10 they are supposed to imagine what could happen next in the story based on what they have heard
Evaluation in comprehension refers to students' ability to assess the usefulness of a text based on criteria set by the teacher This includes determining how representative an aural text is of a specific genre and evaluating the relevance of the information presented in a discussion.
• Personal response: This stage involves a creative response from the students that moves them to interact with the text and get involved with it especially in terms of the topic.
Factors making listening comprehension difficult for English learners
There have been a significant number of research papers that have been conducted in different countries related to the factors affecting listening comprehension
2.2.1 Factors relating to listeners a The inability to concentrate
Effective listening comprehension requires concentration, as it enables individuals to grasp new information in a limited time, and failure to do so can lead to missed information and impaired understanding Concentration plays a crucial role in listening, as even brief pauses can cause listeners to lose focus Moreover, each person's capacity to concentrate on listening varies, highlighting the need for students to enhance their own concentration skills to listen effectively.
Insufficient vocabulary significantly impacts students' listening comprehension, particularly when they encounter unfamiliar topics or specialized fields For example, the terminology used in accounting and finance differs greatly from that in political science, making it challenging for students to understand spoken texts if they lack the necessary specialized vocabulary.
Limited vocabulary can hinder information acquisition, as many English words possess multiple meanings and specific interpretations in different contexts Learners unfamiliar with essential vocabulary may struggle when encountering unknown words while listening This often leads them to pause and focus on deciphering the meaning of a single word, causing them to miss subsequent parts of the speech According to Azmi Bingol, Celik, Yidliz, and Tugrul Mart, this challenge underscores the importance of vocabulary development in effective listening comprehension.
In 2014, it was found that students can easily understand texts with familiar vocabulary, which enhances their motivation and positively influences their listening comprehension skills Therefore, possessing a broad vocabulary is crucial for improving listening comprehension Additionally, poor grammar can hinder this ability.
One significant barrier to listening comprehension for students is poor grammar, which hampers their ability to read and write in English This challenge is particularly pronounced in listening tasks, where students cannot refer to transcripts Research by Graham indicates that EFL learners with weak grammar skills struggle to grasp the meanings of audio materials, as they must identify linguistic elements corresponding to words to comprehend the content (Hasan, 2000; Vandergrift, 2007; Walker, 2014).
Understanding grammar is crucial for learners, as it enhances their ability to comprehend spoken and written information effectively A solid grasp of grammatical rules allows listeners to interpret the speaker's intentions accurately Conversely, students with weak grammar skills may struggle with complex sentences, leading to difficulties in understanding and selecting the correct answers Additionally, limited contextual knowledge can further hinder comprehension, emphasizing the importance of both grammar and context in effective communication.
Underwood (1989) discovered that students who lack background information and contextual knowledge struggle with listening comprehension While they may grasp the superficial meaning of speech, unfamiliarity with the context can lead to significant challenges in fully understanding it This view is echoed by Koichi (2002), who emphasizes the importance of context in comprehension, illustrating that without it, learners may miss critical nuances in communication.
Native speakers may sometimes struggle to understand cashiers in American supermarkets when asked about their preferred type of bag for purchases While non-native speakers might recognize the word "bag," they may find it challenging to grasp its meaning in this specific context due to cultural differences Additionally, listening comprehension improves when students are familiar with the topic of the audio material, making limited contextual knowledge a significant barrier This highlights the importance of effective listening strategies in overcoming comprehension difficulties.
Vietnamese students in high school are not equipped with appropriate strategies to develop their listening comprehension independently (Do, 2007; Nguyen & Tran,
Effective listening strategies are crucial for language learners, as they enhance comprehension of listening texts, particularly in the early stages of language acquisition Research indicates that proficient language learners utilize cognitive strategies, while less skilled listeners often focus on translating words into their native language without connecting them to their existing knowledge This highlights the importance of applying appropriate listening strategies to improve overall understanding.
2.2.2 Factors relating to listening materials a The length of spoken text
Long-spoken texts can significantly hinder listening comprehension, as many students struggle more with lengthy passages compared to shorter ones This difficulty arises because it is challenging for students to retain all the information from a long text, leading to potential gaps in understanding According to Henning (1990), longer passages can disrupt comprehension due to the limitations of listeners' working memory Additionally, the increased length of a passage can result in listeners missing crucial information, especially when they encounter parts they do not understand Consequently, students often perform poorly on tests after listening to long texts, as the information in their minds tends to be disorganized.
At some extent, short listening text makes listening comprehension easy for learners
13 and reduces their fatigue b Unfamiliar topics
Listening to texts often presents challenges for students due to unfamiliar words, including jargon and idioms Those who lack understanding of these terms face difficulties in their listening practice, which is often limited to laboratory settings This restriction can hinder their ability to comprehend unfamiliar vocabulary and topics, particularly in areas like economics and politics, which they rarely discuss Consequently, students' understanding is primarily shaped by their personal experiences, and their limited reading exposure exacerbates this issue However, when students engage with texts that feature familiar words and topics, they find it easier to grasp the content, leading to improved listening skills and greater motivation.
A significant barrier to listening comprehension is the speaker's accent, which can pose challenges even for listeners with strong skills Research indicates that unfamiliar accents lead to decreased comprehension and increased effort in understanding According to Goh (1999), 66% of learners identified a speaker's accent as a critical factor affecting comprehension Both native and non-native unfamiliar accents can hinder listening comprehension, while familiarity with an accent enhances it For instance, students often become accustomed to American or British accents due to their education, making it difficult for them to understand less familiar accents like Australian or Indian, ultimately disrupting the listening comprehension process.
Research indicates that the speed of a speaker significantly impacts listening comprehension, with Brown (1989) concluding that a faster rate of speech negatively affects understanding While faster speech is often less clear than slower speech, the two are distinct aspects of communication When native speakers talk too quickly, it creates challenges for listeners, particularly students, who struggle to grasp all the information being conveyed This lack of comprehension hampers their ability to retain information and perform well on assessments Ultimately, the inability of listeners to control the speed of speech can lead to substantial difficulties in understanding spoken content.
2.2.3 Factors relating to physical setting a Noises around
Not only the difficulties come from the listener or speaker, but also come from the environment surrounding the students Watson and Smeltzer (1984) and Yayang
Listening comprehension can be significantly hindered by various auditory distractions, such as environmental noises like phone rings, door knocks, and background sounds, as noted by research in 1994 These disturbances can divert learners' focus away from the content being presented Hasan (2000) further emphasized that distractions make it challenging for students to maintain concentration during listening activities, leading to potential lapses in attention that negatively affect their understanding Additionally, the use of poor-quality recorded materials can exacerbate these comprehension barriers.
The quality of audio materials significantly affects learners' listening comprehension (Azmi Bingol, Celik, Yidliz, & Tugrul Mart, 2014) Many teachers utilize low-quality recordings, often created in noisy environments or from worn-out tapes, leading to degraded sound quality Additionally, subpar equipment can produce unclear noises, further hindering the listener's ability to understand the content.
Ways to improve English listening comprehension skill
Students often struggle with listening comprehension due to various challenges However, there are effective strategies that can help them improve their listening skills Implementing these techniques can significantly enhance their ability to understand spoken language.
To enhance listening skills, it is essential to implement effective strategies, as Brown (2006) emphasizes that “strategies are clearly a way to ease the burden of listening.” Cognitive strategies, in particular, are vital for processing information during listening tasks, as they involve analyzing and transforming incoming data (Ellis, 1997) These strategies not only improve learners' comprehension of the linguistic system but also foster critical thinking skills By employing cognitive strategies, listeners can identify main ideas, analyze language structures, and mentally translate English into Vietnamese, thereby enhancing their overall understanding.
Effective listening comprehension can be enhanced by utilizing cognitive and compensation strategies According to Oxford (1990), compensation strategies allow learners to navigate language limitations by making educated guesses using linguistic cues, such as word order, or contextual clues, like the speaker's tone of voice, when faced with unfamiliar vocabulary These techniques help fill gaps in understanding, especially when audio clarity is lacking Therefore, students are encouraged to incorporate these strategies to boost their listening skills and overall comprehension.
Limited vocabulary significantly hinders students' listening comprehension, making it essential for them to acquire a diverse range of words across various topics As previously noted, students often encounter unfamiliar subjects, and a broader English vocabulary enhances their understanding Today, students have access to numerous resources to help expand their vocabulary effectively.
The advancement of information technology has introduced new vocabulary to learners, enabling them to engage with songs, podcasts, TV shows, and movies When they come across unfamiliar words, they can easily take a screenshot and continue enjoying their content Afterward, they can look up these words in a dictionary, making this method both effective and enjoyable, as it combines learning with entertainment.
Students often struggle with understanding listening materials due to speakers' pronunciation To enhance their comprehension, it is crucial for learners to be exposed to and familiarize themselves with the accurate pronunciation of native speakers This practice significantly improves their own pronunciation skills, making it easier for them to effectively engage with native speech Many scholars agree that mastering accurate pronunciation plays a vital role in aiding students' listening acquisition.
Students may initially struggle to understand different English accents, which is completely normal To improve their listening skills, they should regularly practice with audio from various accents, including American, Australian, and British When looking up new words in dictionaries like Oxford or Cambridge, it's beneficial to listen to how native speakers pronounce those words Additionally, students can explore resources such as BBC, CNN, Australia Plus, and YouTube for listening practice Choosing short videos and replaying them until comprehension is achieved can be particularly effective It's advisable to alternate between accents, such as focusing on British one day and American the next Embracing diverse accents not only makes learning enjoyable but also enhances the ability to understand English speakers globally, making consistent listening practice essential for progress.
To achieve fluency in English, consistent daily practice is essential, as native speakers often speak quickly and with nuances that can be challenging for non-native learners Understanding spoken English cannot be mastered overnight, so students should dedicate time each day to improve their listening skills, regardless of the duration of practice.
To effectively improve English listening skills, students should engage in self-study beyond the classroom, utilizing various mobile apps designed for language learning Active and passive listening practices, such as watching YouTube videos on preferred topics, can significantly enhance comprehension Initially, students may find it challenging to follow native speakers, but using captions or transcripts can provide valuable support Consistent practice will lead to better understanding and fluency, ultimately benefiting their speaking and communication abilities Therefore, dedicating time to mastering listening skills is essential for language learners.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
The participants of the study
The research involved 100 randomly selected first-year students from the English Faculty at Thuongmai University, aged 18 to 19, who are part of the K57 cohort in their second semester of the 2021-2022 academic year Participants were assured that their personal information would remain confidential, and the collected data would solely be utilized for research purposes.
Data collection instruments
In this research, a structured questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and distributed to 100 randomly selected English major freshmen via Facebook and Messenger The purpose of the questionnaire was to gather insights into students' perceptions of the importance of listening comprehension skills and the challenges they encounter while studying listening at Thuongmai University The design of the questionnaire was informed by a literature review on the factors contributing to difficulties in listening comprehension.
The survey questionnaire designed for students facilitates easy summarization and analysis of the collected data It is structured into four distinct sections: the first part gathers information about the students' backgrounds, followed by an assessment of their attitudes towards English listening comprehension The third section identifies the challenges they face in this area, while the final part explores potential activities aimed at enhancing their English listening comprehension skills.
Data analysis
After gathering the opinions of those students The researcher conducts summation and data analysis Statistical analysis is carried out to generate specific
19 statistics.These figures are placed in charts or graphs for better demonstration and explanation, making the study more concise and scientific
Survey data reveals a varied distribution of participants based on their years of English learning The accompanying chart illustrates the percentage of years that freshmen have been engaged in learning the language.
Chart 1 The period of time which the students have been learning English
The chart indicates that first-year students in Vietnam have a strong foundation in English, as it is a compulsory subject in their education system No student has studied English for less than five years, with the majority having learned the language for seven to ten years, typically from grade 3 to grade 12 Additionally, 15% of respondents have studied English for over ten years, suggesting they began learning as early as grade 1 or even in kindergarten Meanwhile, 5% of students reported learning English for five to seven years.
In a recent survey, students were asked to evaluate their English listening comprehension skills, revealing that 50% of them perceive their abilities to be at an average level This indicates that these students are capable of understanding and listening to basic English content effectively.
Less than 5 years 5-7 years 7-10 years More than 10 years
A significant 35% of students surveyed rated their listening comprehension as poor, highlighting challenges in fully understanding content ranging from simple to complex In contrast, only 15% of students felt confident in their listening skills, with 10% considering themselves good and a mere 5% rating their abilities as excellent.
Chart 2 The level of the first-year students in listening comprehension
Despite many participants having studied English for an extended period, they still lack confidence in their listening skills.
3.3.2 Students’ attitude toward learning English listening comprehension skill
These next questions will show us about the students’ interest in learning listening comprehension skills The results have been collected and shown in the following charts:
Listening comprehension in English is a favored subject for many students, with 20% expressing a strong liking for it and 44% enjoying the process However, 8% of learners dislike it, while 28% feel indifferent, finding it neither particularly interesting nor boring, depending on the lesson Overall, the varying attitudes towards listening skills highlight its significance in language learning.
Chart 3: Students’ attitudes toward learning English listening comprehension 3.3.2.1 Students perceive the importance of listening comprehension
Chart 4: Students perceive the importance of English listening comprehension
The next question was asked to collect information about how students assess the importance of English listening comprehension skill As seen from the chart,
Really like Like Normal Dislike
A survey conducted with 22 students revealed that 80% highly valued the role of listening comprehension in English, while 15% considered it important Only 5% of the participants rated listening comprehension as slightly important, and none deemed it unimportant Overall, the findings indicate that the students recognize the significance of English listening comprehension.
3.3.2.2 Students’ assessment about the level of the difficulties of English listening comprehension skill
In a recent survey on English listening comprehension challenges, respondents rated their experiences across four levels: difficult, a little bit difficult, normal, and not difficult at all The results are clearly illustrated in the accompanying chart, highlighting the varying degrees of difficulty faced by learners.
Chart 5: Students’ assessment about the level of the difficulties of English listening comprehension skill
According to the data, a significant 45% of students found English listening comprehension to be difficult, while 30% considered it somewhat challenging Conversely, a smaller proportion of learners perceived English listening comprehension as normal, accounting for 15%, and 10% found it not difficult at all, highlighting a notable disparity in students' perceptions of listening comprehension difficulties.
Difficult A little bit difficult Normal Not difficult at all
A recent survey highlights that only a small percentage of students excel in English listening comprehension, emphasizing the skill's difficulty Despite being easy to learn, this ability remains elusive for the majority, confirming common assumptions about the challenges faced by learners in mastering this aspect of the language.
3.3.2.3 Students’ attitude toward the English listening self-studying
A recent study aimed to determine the frequency with which third-year students engage in English listening practice at home The findings reveal that a significant majority of first-year students recognize the importance of self-study in this area Specifically, 55% of students reported studying ‘sometimes,’ while 23% indicated they do so ‘often,’ and 14% chose to mark a less frequent option.
‘rarely’, and the remaining, 8% of students never practice English listening at home
Chart 6 Students’ attitudes toward English listening self-studying
3.3.2.4 The methods freshman self-study English listening at home
To clarify English listening self-studying methods of freshmen, the researcher collected data from questionnaires and students’ answers are illustrated in the following table:
By what ways do you practice listening? Percentage
Listening to English news, podcast, songs 50%
Using voice chat on the Internet communicating with friends
Watching movies, shows in English 35%
Table 1: The methods freshmen self-study English listening at home
The survey results indicate that 50% of participants find listening to English news, podcasts, and songs to be the most effective way to practice listening at home, while 35% prefer watching English movies and shows Additionally, 15% of students engage in voice chat online to communicate with friends, leveraging social media to interact with native speakers Overall, first-year English students at Thuongmai University recognize the importance of listening comprehension in their language learning, and despite the challenges, most are dedicated to improving their English listening skills at home.
3.3.2.5 The time students spend on listening to English at home
Chart 7 The time students spend on listening to English at home
The pie chart illustrates that a significant majority of students engage in English listening practice outside of class, with 73% dedicating less than 30 minutes per day Additionally, 25% of students reported spending 30 minutes daily on listening activities, while only 2 students indicated a different duration.
30 minutes1-2 hours more than 2 hours
A significant 25% of respondents dedicated over 2 hours daily to practicing their English listening skills, while 6% spent 1-2 hours on this activity This indicates that participants recognize the importance of practicing English listening at home, which is a positive step towards enhancing their listening abilities However, it is concerning that the majority of them invest only a limited amount of time in self-study for this essential skill.
3.3.3 First-year English majored students’ difficulties in English listening
Factors causing students listening comprehension problems are categorized into different sources including problems related to listening materials; the listeners and physical setting, which will be discussed in detail below:
Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always
1 I am unable to concentrate because
I search for the answers, and I listen to the text at the same time
2 I find it difficult to really concentrate on listening
3 Complex grammatical structures interfered with my listening comprehension
4 My limited vocabulary makes it difficult to improve my listening skills
5 I stop listening to think about an unknown word then I miss the rest of texts
6 I use my experience and background knowledge of the topic to understand the spoken text
7 I cannot use listening strategies very often 10 22 30 33 5
8 I get somewhat difficult to apply listening strategies
Table 2: Listening difficulties related to listeners a The inability to concentrate
A significant challenge faced by first-year English Faculty students is the inability to concentrate, with 76% of participants acknowledging this issue Moreover, 85% of students reported difficulty in focusing on listening texts while simultaneously searching for answers, which is crucial during listening lessons that require attention to comprehend various information This lack of concentration often leads to missed spoken content Conversely, only 15% of students indicated they can effectively listen and find answers concurrently, while 24% stated they can concentrate on listening tasks Additionally, insufficient vocabulary further exacerbates these concentration issues.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Recommendations for improving English listening comprehension
To enhance long-term listening skills, students must recognize their active role in the learning process By engaging in focused study both in the classroom and at home, they can significantly improve their listening comprehension abilities.
Pre-listening activities are essential as they lay the groundwork for effective listening by preparing students before they engage with spoken content These activities help students share a common background knowledge, which is crucial for understanding the discourse Additionally, familiarity with nonverbal cues, such as tone of voice, enhances comprehension across different cultures To improve their listening skills, students should invest time in reading books, newspapers, and magazines, thereby enriching their background knowledge and facilitating a better understanding of the listening material.
During the while-listening stage, students focus on comprehending the spoken text, requiring high levels of concentration and attention To minimize distractions, it's essential to turn off phones and ignore incoming messages Memorizing exact words or sentences is neither possible nor necessary; instead, students should aim to grasp and summarize the main ideas If they encounter unfamiliar words, they should simply ignore them and continue listening, while taking notes on key points.
To enhance listening skills, students should connect ideas rather than translating texts into their native language, such as Vietnamese Instead, they should focus on comprehending the content directly in English.
Teachers play a crucial part in improving students’ listening skill Without sufficient instruction, students will not determine their way to achieve their own learning
• Using different kinds of input
Teachers should offer students a diverse range of input, including lectures, radio news, films, TV shows, everyday conversations, interviews, and English songs Incorporating various native-speaker accents is essential for extensive listening practice, as American, British, Australian, and Canadian accents differ significantly Additionally, teachers should educate students on pronunciation rules to enhance their understanding of rapid, natural speech, encouraging them to imitate the pronunciation, tones, and rhythms of native speakers.
• Providing background knowledge and linguistic knowledge
Encouraging learners to reflect on their prior knowledge about spoken content is essential for comprehension Teachers can enhance understanding by sharing relevant background information from personal experiences or literature This approach helps focus students' listening by highlighting key aspects to pay attention to Additionally, when students predict what they might hear and connect it to their existing knowledge, it increases the relevance and engagement with the material.
• Giving and gaining the necessary feedback
During lessons, teachers should offer ample feedback to enhance students' error correction and boost their motivation, ultimately increasing their confidence in handling listening challenges Additionally, soliciting student feedback about the lesson helps educators gauge the class's progress and adapt their teaching methods accordingly.
Limitation of the study
Although the study has certain positive aspects such as data collection methods, survey questionnaires for students, it can be admitted that the study has got a number of shortcomings
Due to time constraints, limited experience, and the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, data collection was conducted using a single primary instrument—a questionnaire—which was distributed online to students.
This study is limited to first-year students in the English Faculty at Thuongmai University, which represents a small sample size, making it difficult to generalize the findings broadly Additionally, not all aspects of the challenges faced by students were addressed Despite these limitations, the research aims to enhance the teaching and learning of English listening comprehension at Thuongmai University.
Suggestions for further studies
Future research should integrate interview findings with survey questionnaires to draw more compelling conclusions Additionally, it is essential to include a broader range of participants, such as secondary and high school students, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand.
This research aimed to identify the challenges faced by first-year English majors at Thuongmai University in listening comprehension and propose potential solutions Based on survey questionnaires, the findings revealed that while students recognize the significance of listening skills, they struggle with understanding listening texts The difficulties encountered can be categorized into three main areas: insufficient vocabulary, fast speech rates, and varied accents; issues with concentration, background noise, and text length; and limitations in listening strategies and contextual knowledge.
To address listening comprehension challenges among students, it is essential to enhance vocabulary, background knowledge, and practice habits Teachers can support this process by providing relevant background and linguistic knowledge while facilitating effective feedback to promote student understanding and growth.
This study aims to assist first-year English majors at Thuongmai University in enhancing their reading skills specifically, while also contributing to the overall improvement of their language abilities.
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This survey questionnaire is part of my graduation research titled "A Study on Difficulties and Solutions in English Listening Comprehension Among First-Year English Majors at Thuongmai University." Participants are requested to answer by selecting options from a checklist or providing their thoughts in the designated spaces Rest assured, all personal information and responses will be kept confidential and will not be utilized for any other purposes.
Please choose the best answer
1 How long have you been learning English?
2 How do rate your current English listening comprehension level?
PART II: WHAT ARE THE ATTITUDES OF FIRST-YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS TOWARD LEARNING ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION SKILL?
Please choose the best answer
1 What is your attitude toward learning English listening comprehension skills?
1 In your opinion, how important is English listening comprehension?
3 What do you think about the difficulty of listening comprehension skills?
4 How often do you listen English at home?
5 By what ways do you practice listening?
Listening to English news, podcast, songs
Using voice chat on the Internet communicating with friends
Watching movies, shows in English
6 How many hours per day do you spend listening English?
PART III: THE DIFFICULTIES IN ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION SKILL
(+) How often do you encounter these difficulties in listening comprehension? (Tick out the best answer)
Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always
1 I am unable to concentrate because
I search for the answers, and I listen to the text at the same time
2 I find it difficult to really concentrate on listening
3 Complex grammatical structures interfered with my listening comprehension
4 My limited vocabulary makes it difficult to improve my listening skills
5 I stop listening to think about an unknown word then I miss the rest of texts
6 I use my experience and background knowledge of the topic to understand the spoken text
7 I cannot use listening strategies very often
8 I get somewhat difficult to apply listening strategies
2 Difficulties related to listening materials
1 It is difficult for me to interpret the meaning of a long listening text
2 I feel fatigue when I listen to a long spoken text
3 It’s not easy for me to infer the meaning of an unknown word while listening
4 I often miss information when speakers speak too fast
5 It’s hard to understand the recorded materials when speakers speak different accents
3 Difficulties related to physical settings
1 Noises surrounding corridors, other classroom affected my listening comprehension
2 It is difficult for me to concentrate with noises around
3 Unclear sounds resulting from a poor-quality audio interfere with my listening comprehension
PART IV: SOME SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION SKILL
In your opinion, what are suggestions that improve your English listening comprehension skills? (You can tick more than one answer)
Listen to radio channels, podcast in English
Use voice chat on the internet to communicate with friends
Watch British or American television channels