Factors that Contribute to the Problems Efl Learners Face in the Listening Skills Classroom
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study explores the factors that contribute to the problems learners
encounter in EFL listening comprehension, assesses whether the factors are
associated with the text, the speaker, the listener, or the environment, and
identifies which particular factor poses the most difficulty for the learners.
The subjects of the study were first year English major students of Bahir
Dar University and 149 students who took the listening course in 2007/8
were selected for the study. Data was collected using questionnaire,
interview, observation, material analysis and document analysis. The study
confirmed that EFL learners in college encounter listening problems
whenever they are engaged in EFL listening activities on the listening
course. The study identified thirty six factors that influenced the learners
listening comprehension, and it further identified that the learners’ listening
difficulties emerged from the defects of the listening materials used in the
course, from the students lack of exposure to native speaker English, and
from the inconvenience of the listening environment where the EFL listening
took place. The study also revealed that the students perceive native
speaker pronunciation and fast speed of delivery posed the most difficulties
for them while they are engaged in EFL listening activities.
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Problems Efl Learners Face