CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES IN LISTENING COMPREHENSION: A CASE STUDY OF INDONESIAN EFL LEARNERS

This study investigates the listening comprehension challenges faced by Indonesian EFL learners and the strategies they employ to overcome these difficulties. Using a mixed-methods approach, both quantitative survey data and qualitative interviews were analyzed. Quantitative findings reveal that the most significant linguistic challenge was understanding unfamiliar vocabulary, while the primary cognitive difficulty was retaining information before the speaker finishes talking. Affective challenges were led by anxiety during exams, and environmental distractions, such as background noise, also hindered comprehension. In contrast, informal language, organizing information, and relying on visual cues were perceived as less problematic. Qualitative data further illuminated individual strategies used by learners, including repeated listening, the use of subtitles and transcripts, prediction, note-taking, and focusing on keywords, tone, and context. Learners emphasized the importance of consistency, selecting enjoyable content, and gradually reducing reliance on translation and subtitles. These findings highlight the complex nature of listening in EFL contexts and underscore the value of learner-driven, metacognitive, and cognitive strategies in building listening proficiency. The study offers practical insights for educators aiming to support listening development in similar language learning environments.