EFL STUDENTS’ OBSTACLES AND STRATEGIES IN COMPREHENDING ENGLISH READING TEXT IN THE TOEFL READING SECTIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG

This study aims to investigate the obstacles and strategies experienced by EFL students in comprehending English reading texts in the TOEFL reading section. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research involved seven graduate students from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang who were recipients of the LPDP-BIB scholarship. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and documentation of students’ TOEFL reading scores. The findings revealed six main obstacles faced by the students: limited vocabulary, time constraints, difficulty identifying main ideas, difficulty finding keywords in questions, lack of reading practice, and misunderstanding of the text. Meanwhile, six strategies were commonly applied: reading the questions first, using skimming and scanning techniques, identifying contextual clues, understanding test instructions, finding main ideas, and using synonyms. The study provides insights for students and educators in improving reading comprehension performance, particularly in standardized English tests like the TOEFL.