Investigating reasons why listening in english is difficult: Voice from foreign language learners

Listening is not as easy as people think, particularly when the English language has status as a foreign language that is different from a second language as well as first language. For many reasons, foreign language learners find it difficult to listen to English. Although some language learners find it easy to comprehend listening, there are still more learners who have got difficulties in listening than others who do not. There must be some factors that hinder listeners to do it well. Although listening is categorized as a receptive skill, it is an active process. Listeners have to focus on what they are hearing since this involves many mental processes. If a question is asked 'how many people in a foreign language setting are able to listen very well?'. For the first sight, the answer is not many. However, when a lot of trainings are conducted, the answer will be different. This study documents some reasons why students have got difficulties in listening in English in order that some assistance to help the learners of English can be provided in strategic ways.