Perspectives of EFL Students in Listening: modality: Descriptive Study

Abstract

This study aimed to describe EFL students' difficulties in listening skills in a public University in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The sample involved 53 participants who were in the fifth semester in the Faculty of Chemistry and the subject that they were taking at the moment was Unit Operations, classes 1 and 2. most learners with a B1 English level. The participants answered a Likert-type scale that was applied as an instrument to know the current academic situation and difficulties in foreign language learning that they have. Students answered the survey via email using WhatsApp groups. The data collected were analyzed in an excel worksheet and processed in a specific statistic program where results were found. Results demonstrated that even though students try to understand a different accent it is difficult for them and when they listen to an audio only once it is to enough to interpretate. Participants most of the time understand better when they listen to some topics that they are interested in, using resources such as: podcasts, YouTube, series, and videogames. Finally, activities applied in the classroom which are provided by the teacher are: fill in blanks with information after listening to an audio and talk to their classmates comparing answers to check the listening comprehension activity. Since outcomes are significant for EFL teachers, researchers, and students who can find this investigation beneficial for subsequent research to apply it for lesson plans.