Investigating Listening Difficulties Faced by Undergraduate English Major Students at Kabul University

Abstract

This study explores the causes of listening difficulties among students in the English Language and Literature Department at Kabul University. Although listening challenges have been widely studied globally, limited research has addressed this issue in Afghanistan. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 50 undergraduate students through a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used for analysis. The findings revealed that students face listening problems due to both external and internal factors. External challenges include noise, large class sizes, and inadequate teaching materials, while internal factors include limited vocabulary, difficulty understanding fast speech, and difficulty concentrating. The study concludes with recommendations to help students and educators improve listening comprehension and suggests directions for future research.