INVESTIGASI FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KINERJA SISWA PADA SESI MENDENGARKAN PADA TES BAHASA INGGRIS SEBAGAI BAHASA ASING (TOEFL): STUDI KASUS DI PROGRAM PASCASARJANA STUDI PENDIDIKAN BAHASA INGGRIS UNIVERSITAS TADULAKO

Given the TOEFL's role as a crucial criterion for university admissions, graduation
requirements, and scholarships in Indonesia. Its comprehensive evaluation,
particularly the listening section, is crucial for assessing students' abilities to
understand and interpret spoken English in academic and professional settings.
Mastery of these listening skills is vital for success in classrooms, workplaces, and
broader community interactions. However, despite holding bachelor's degrees in
English Education, many students at Tadulako University struggle to achieve the
required scores in the TOEFL listening section, with a notable number scoring
poorly. This research aims to investigate the factors affecting the listening section
performance of students in the English Education Study Program at Tadulako
University and to explore the strategies they use to overcome these challenges. A
qualitative case study approach was employed, involving purposive sampling to
select subjects that consisted of nine students. Data was collected through in-depth
interviews, providing detailed insights into the factors influencing students' listening
performance. The data was then analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns
and themes within the responses. The data revealed several key factors impacting
students' listening performance, including accent and speed of speech, lack of focus,
unfamiliar conversation themes, lack of experience with the TOEFL test, anxiety and
external factors such as low audio quality and background noise. Students employed
various strategies to manage these challenges, such as finding keywords, pay
attention to the second speaker, regular practice, exposure to diverse topics, active
listening techniques and deep breathing for managing anxiety. The findings suggest
the need for realistic TOEFL practice sessions, anxiety management strategies, and
optimal test conditions to improve students' listening skills and overall performance.
Keywords: Factors, investigating, listening section, TOEFL