AN ANALYSIS OF THE FOURTH-YEAR STUDENTS' LISTENING ABILITY IN UNDERSTANDING SHORT EXPRESSIONS IN DIALOGUE AT THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITAS BUNG HATTA

Abstrak

The aim of this study was to evaluate the listening ability of fourth-year students at Bung Hatta University in comprehending short expressions, specifically focusing on agreement, suggestion, and negation. The methodology involved assessing students' comprehension through dialogue interactions and analyzing their responses to short expression prompts. The findings of the study revealed varying levels of proficiency among the students. Agreement expressions were most accurately understood, with 79% demonstrating excellent proficiency, 21% exhibiting good proficiency, and none showing moderate or low proficiency. However, suggestion expressions posed challenges, with only 46% displaying excellent proficiency, 50% exhibiting good proficiency, and 4% demonstrating moderate proficiency. Meanwhile, negative expressions showed better stability, with 64% demonstrating excellent proficiency, 29% exhibiting good proficiency, and 7% demonstrating moderate proficiency. In conclusion, while fourth-year students exhibited commendable proficiency in understanding short expressions, particularly in agreement expressions, challenges were evident in comprehending suggestion expressions. Targeted interventions are recommended to enhance proficiency in this area. Additionally, students are encouraged to engage in regular listening practice sessions and expand their vocabulary. Future research endeavors should focus on addressing vocabulary-related challenges and exploring additional complexities in auditory comprehension, especially concerning various expressions.