FACTORS AFFECTING NON-ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS’ LISTENING COMPREHENSION: A CASE STUDY AT DONG NAI TECHOLOGY UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Listening comprehension plays a pivotal role in effective communication in spoken language in the global village (Meyerhuber, 2019). Besides that, it also assists students in expanding their knowledge base and developing their English skills. However, comprehending English speech is not an easy task for non-English majors. Therefore, students at Dong Nai Technology University are offered many opportunities to improve their listening abilities in English lessons. However, due to unknown reasons, their listening skills are ineffective. The purpose of this research is to identify the obstacles that inhibit students from listening well. Additionally, the study employed a survey questionnaire administered to 120 non-English majors and an interview was conducted with 11 students. It demonstrates that students frequently struggle with unfamiliar vocabulary, lack of concentration, length and speed of the listening, cultural distinctions and no motivation. The study offers potential strategies to help students improve their listening skills, and provides teachers with methods to support this improvement.