Student's Issues Depicted through TOEFL Score Test: A Case Study in Medical Laboratory Technology of X University in Padang

Abstract

This study is intended to analyze the obstacles encountered by test takers and to give insight to the university, especially the Language Centre Unit, to rebuild strategies in prioritizing the further attention of the teaching methods. The data were derived from 62 medical laboratory technology students with the purposive sampling technique. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to analyze the data. The data collection included the TOEFL score and drilling tests during the TOEFL preparation training by employing the non-participant observational method. The result reveals that medical laboratory technology students were still at the elementary level, with an average score was 384. Structure, with an average correctness of 13 is the most challenging part of the three sections, followed by reading comprehension 16 correct answers. The easiest part is listening comprehension, depicted in the table of correctness with 18 correct answers. Therefore, the finding of this research suggests that the language center in the university should produce extensive TOEFL preparation training based on the previous results from the test taker's issues with appropriate TOEFL material as solution to student`s obstacles in TOEFL test. The language center should have provided not only the TOEFL test but also facilitated the courses that focus on each skill in the TOEFL part.