L2 LISTENING COMPREHENSION: IS IT A LANGUAGE PROBLEM OR LISTENING PROBLEM?

L-2 learners often regard listening as the most difficult language skill to learn. On the other hand, it is noticeable that L-2 listening remains the least researched of all four language skills. The present study reports on the results of an empirical study on forty-six L-2 learners of English. The subjects were equally divided into two groups. The first group (N=23) represents first year students (Beginners) in the Department of English at the Faculty of Education, Menufia University, Egypt. The second group (N=23) represents fourth year students (Advanced) in the same department. The major question that this study attempts to answer is "whether listening comprehension a language problem or listening problem?" The instruments of this study consist of five tasks: pre-test, questionnaire, classroom instruction sessions, post-test, and interviews. The data analysis had a quantitative and a qualitative part. Results were obtained and conclusions were made.