Fitriana Aulia. 2019. A Descriptive Study on Students’ Difficulties of TOEFL Listening Aspects in Listening Course. Sarjana’s Thesis. English Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin. Advisor I: Asmi Rusmanayanti, S.Pd, M.Sc, Advisor II: Dr. Noor Eka Chandra, M.Pd.

Keywords: difficulties, TOEFL, listening skill

Most Indonesian universities require students to take TOEFL test upon graduation. The TOEFL score has significant importance as requirements for graduate school and workplace admission in Indonesia and abroad. Unfortunately, many students still struggle to attain the standard score because they score low in listening section.

This research is aimed to describe difficulties faced by students of English Department FKIP Lambung Mangkurat University in TOEFL listening aspects. The participants were 80 students in Listening 3 course of English Department 2015. A TOEFL listening test and a set of questionnaire were used as instruments of this research. The result of the research shows that students’ problem in TOEFL listening lies in Section A with six difficult aspects namely: (1) synonyms; (2)who what where; (3)multiple nouns; (4)expressions of agreement, uncertainty, and suggestions; (5)wishes and untrue conditions; and (6) two and three-part verbs.

Based on the result, it is suggested for students to practice TOEFL listening strategies at home. The lecturers are suggested to emphasize teaching the strategies in Section A and the difficult aspects. Lecturers are also suggested to encourage and facilitate students to practice their TOEFL listening skill outside the classroom.The researcher suggests future researchers who are interested in a similar topic to investigate the difficulty of TOEFL listening in an exclusive TOEFL training class.