Factor Affecting Students’ Listening Skill

The present study was carried out to define factors affecting students’ listening skill. This study aimed to identify the influence factors and to identify the most important strategy used by students to improve their listening skill. The research conducted in a unit of third semester students of English Language Education Department of Ar-Raniry State Islamic University who involve in listening class. The descriptive qualitative approach was implemented for exploring the students’ experiences and opinions regarding to factors affecting and strategies that used by students to develop their listening skill. This study used purposive sampling by implementing listening comprehension test to select participants for the study. The overall result demonstrated that students’ characteristics, classroom activities, and strategies implemented by students in practicing listening are the main affecting factors in improving students’ listening ability. The majority of students believed that the diligence in practicing listening is the most important strategy.