ANALYZING STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN LISTENING COMPREHENSION USING AUTHENTIC AUDIO MATERIALS IN CLASS XI OF SMK BUDI UTOMO WAY JEPARA, EAST LAMPUNG

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the difficulties encountered by Class XI students of SMK Budi Utomo Way Jepara in comprehending listening materials delivered through authentic audio recordings. The background of the study lies in students’ low ability to process natural spoken English, particularly due to fast speech rate, unfamiliar vocabulary, and accent variations. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, involving 32 students as participants. Data were collected through classroom observations, listening comprehension tests, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that linguistic challenges were the most significant barriers, including limited vocabulary knowledge, inability to process rapid speech, and difficulty recognizing connected speech and reduced forms. Psychological factors such as anxiety and low confidence further hindered students’ concentration and willingness to engage in listening tasks. Environmental issues, including poor audio quality, classroom noise, and technical disruptions, also negatively affected the listening experience. Moreover, students lacked effective listening strategies and tended to focus on decoding individual words rather than constructing overall meaning. The study concludes that listening instruction should incorporate pre-listening support, metacognitive strategy training, vocabulary enhancement, and improved learning conditions. Additionally, authentic audio materials should be introduced gradually to help students build familiarity and confidence in understanding natural spoken English. These findings provide valuable insights for teachers in designing more effective listening activities that address students’ specific needs.