Maritime English Journal

Abstract To date, many researchers have attempted to offer an optimal listening instruction for FL learners in different language learning contexts. Despite this interest, the characteristics of the listening comprehension problems experienced by FL listeners are not well understood. The problem appears to be thornier when it comes to teaching listening skills to beginner-level learners who are more likely to become disheartened by inappropriate listening practice. This paper was thus undertaken to investigate the frequency of listening comprehension problems that beginner-level FL listeners encounter in the early stages of language learning. Administrating the listening module of an IELTS test to establish the baseline listening ability, 48 nautical students with limited level of listening ability were selected. In order to determine the frequency of FL listeners’ comprehension problems, all the subjects were asked to listen to a simple conversation, and write a summary of it in th...