Investigating Difficulties of Listening Skill Encountered by EFL Learners at University Level

Abstract

The study aims to diagnose the areas that cause difficulties in listening skill which face students at university level and find suitable solutions for these difficulties taking into consideration the importance of listening skill for “ EFL” learners in a acquiring English Language. The researcher used descriptive, analytical approach. The data was collected by using two tools, a test for fifty students of second year college of Languages, Sudan, University of Science and Technology and a questionnaire for twenty teachers from different Sudanese universities. The study revealed that university students find difficulties in listening skill, factors such as accent, style of speech, pronunciation and colloquial expression cause difficulties for students Also the study revealed that students face difficulties in differentiating between vowel sounds. The researcher recommends that each university should have a language a lab in order to help students participate effectively in listening activities. Students should know the rules of pronunciation as well as to be familiar with different accents of native speakers. Besides , more efforts should be exert in teaching vowel sounds.