International students' experience in academic listening at graduate level in Malaysia:  Challenges and solutions

The number of international students choosing Malaysia as a destination to further their graduate studies is steadily growing.  This phenomenon has urged researchers to look for ways to ensure that they go through a smooth academic journey.  One significant area of research has focused on the challenges faced by these students in their academic listening and solutions undertaken to overcome the challenges.  This quantitative study, using an adapted questionnaire survey by Evans & Green (2007) was carried out among 100 international students in 11 taught Master programs (coursework and mixed mode).  It was found that international students for whom English is either their second or foreign language face challenges in academic listening in English at graduate level in Malaysia.  One of the main reasons identified that contribute to this problem is English is also a second or foreign language in Malaysia.  It is hoped that this study would be able to be a platform to ensure that international students experience a satisfying academic experience in their graduate study.  The findings and results, if taken seriously by the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia would help to further improve and enhance teaching of international students by local academicians.