Perceptions of Can Tho University EFL Students towards Common Problems in Listening Comprehension in Classroom Context
Thai Cong Dan

Thai Cong Dan, PhD,Dean, School of Social Sciences &Humanities, Can Tho University, Vietnam

Huynh Thanh Kieu

Huynh Thanh Kieu, BA in English Studies, School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University

Phu Thi Hong Chau

Phu Thi Hong Chau, English lecturer, Chau Thanh Highschool, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam

ABSTRACT
  This study sought to discover English listening comprehension problems (Shen, Guizhou, Wichura, Kiattichai, 2007) based on the perceptions (Andrej Démuth, 2012) of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in Can Tho University (CTU), Vietnam with an aim to finding out common problems most of the first year English -majored students encountered in listening comprehension. The participants were 126 students majoring in English studies and were taking the listening and speaking course in the academic year of 2015-2016 at CTU. Data were gathered by means of the questionnaire and interviews. The results of this study showed that psychological states, slang, unfamiliar vocabularies, unfamiliar topics and lack of background knowledge on difficult topics were the major listening comprehension problems faced by the first year English -majored students. Based on the finding, this thesis would suggest some implications for EFL students as well as teachers and also provide a direction for further studies in the same field.

Key words: Perceptions, EFL students, English listening comprehension, English listening comprehension problems, Can Tho University