Nowadays, English plays a crucial role in many fields in Vietnam as well as globally. Therefore, having a good level of English proficiency is advantageous for many people in terms of studying, researching, and working. Among the English skills, listening is important but also poses challenges for learners. The purpose of this study is to identify the current situation and difficulties in English listening comprehension among non-major students, in order to find appropriate solutions to help learners improve their listening skills. The survey sample consists of 188 first-year students majoring in Accounting and Business Administration at university of transport and communication ho chi minh city campus. A listening skills test was administered after students had almost completed their English course with TOEIC orientation. The research results indicate several difficulties students encounter in listening, including: (1) Lack of vocabulary knowledge, (2) Weak ability to perceive and differentiate sounds, (3) Limited ability to infer and use listening strategies such as predicting or taking notes, and (4) Lack of concentration. Additionally, the results also highlight certain issues that educators should consider to help learners enhance their listening skills.

The roles, functions, and effects of pragmatic markers (PMs) in spoken discourse are explored in this study, with a focus on how language learners’ comprehension skills, classification and interpretation abilities, and interactions between verbal and non-verbal PMs are affected. A combination of quantitative and qualitative procedures was employed in this investigation. To evaluate how well PMs in spoken discourse were identified and understood, level 4, English Language Unit, Preparatory Studies Centre fifty participants from the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Salalah, the Sultanate of Oman completed fifteen quick audio samples with a range of pragmatic characteristics, five additional filler audio segments, and pre-and post-test questionnaires. The study discovered that learners' comprehension of PMs—which regulate discourse structure, convey speaker purpose, and manage conversation flow—improved dramatically with targeted instruction. It emphasized the significance of PMs in the development of communication skills as well as the problems with categorizing PMs due to a lack of a standardized framework.

This research investigated the representation of sexuality and erotism in selected Filipino short stories, examining the underlying psychological implications of these elements through the lens of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. By exploring narratives within a post-colonial Philippine context, the study employed directed content analysis and thematic analysis to uncover the complexities of human desire. The analysis focused on works such as "The Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez, "Midsummer" by Manuel E. Arguilla, "The Virgin" by Kerima Polotan Tuvera, and "The Riddle" by F. Sionil Jose. The research identified recurring themes of repressed desires, the negotiation of sexual identity, and the influence of cultural and societal norms. These stories revealed the intricate interplay between sexuality and identity, the confrontation of societal taboos, and the psychological dimensions of erotism. The findings highlight how authors use narrative techniques to delve into these themes, providing insights into the human psyche. Moreover, the study underscored the importance of literature as a medium for exploring the nuances of sexuality and challenging entrenched cultural taboos. By examining how these Filipino authors address and articulate themes of desire and erotism, the research contributed to a deeper understanding of the human experience and the ongoing negotiation of sexual identity within a specific cultural and historical framework.

This analysis investigated the application of psychoanalytic theory to unveil the unconscious motivations and inner struggles within characters of contemporary Philippine short stories. Inspired by Freud's concept of the unconscious mind, the study examined how seemingly trivial actions, dreams, and dialogue exposed hidden desires and conflicts. It further explored how characters grapple with past traumas, a core concept in psychoanalysis. This analysis employed a direct content analysis approach to explore how contemporary Philippine short stories depict unconscious conflicts, desires, and traumas. The concise format of short stories was advantageous, allowing for a focused examination of characters' inner lives and the subtle clues revealing hidden desires, conflicts, and fears. Purposive sampling identified works that demonstrably engaged with these themes. A close reading of the chosen stories followed, meticulously examining the text for key elements and recurring patterns. Thematic analysis techniques were then used to identify and analyze these recurring themes. Literary devices like dreams, symbols, and free indirect discourse were pinpointed within the stories, as they offer insights into unconscious motivations. Researchers then analyzed how these devices connect to relevant psychoanalytic concepts, including Freudian theory of the unconscious, unresolved traumas, and defense mechanisms. Recognizing the study's focus on the Philippines, the analysis likely considered the influence of societal expectations and traditions on the characters' unconscious conflicts. This involved examining how the specific cultural context shapes the stories' portrayals of the unconscious mind. By examining language, dreams, fantasies, and behaviors, psychoanalytic therapy sheds light on underlying conflicts, desires, and defense mechanisms influencing an individual's psychology. This study focused specifically on three elements of the unconscious: conflicts, desires, and traumas. Analyzing literary works demonstrated how these unconscious forces significantly impact thoughts, feelings, and actions. However, the analysis acknowledged limitations such as subjective interpretations and confirmation bias. Further research exploring other aspects of the unconscious offered a more comprehensive understanding of these complex dynamics.

The hero's journey is a timeless narrative framework that explores the transformative journey of a protagonist facing trials, tribulations, and personal growth. Along their journey, they face inner and outer challenges, battling monsters, facing moral dilemmas, and ultimately undergoing a profound transformation. This study focused on The Legendary Struggle: A Hero’s Journey. A direct content analysis approach was used in the selected epic stories in the Philippines such as Ibalon, Indarapatra and Sulayman, Hinilawod, Hudhud of Aliguyon, and Kudaman by examining the struggles of a hero’s journey in terms of separation, initiation, and return. The results indicated in the separation phase have an emotional impact on the hero’s part and most likely on the family members and the people around. Moreover, the hero felt bothered because he would be away from his loved ones and homeland. In the initiation phase, the hero has struggles and challenges in his journey where he needs to fight to preserve the role, defend the homeland, and fight in the name of love. In the return phase, the hero struggles in returning home due to hindrances as obstacles. Despite all the struggles encountered by the heroes they still managed to return home safely.

The Nigeria Police Force whose duty is to protect the citizens and also enforce law and order in the society has unfortunately become tainted by corruption and other vices. It is common for police officers to accept bribes, often in form of money, in the course of their duties. For example, if an offender cooperates by bribing the officers, they will escape punishment while an innocent person may be unjustly arrested and subjected to legal actions. Furthermore, Police officers betray one another, extort motorists on highways, supply weapons to criminals and act as godfathers to criminals in a bid to make more money. These among other corrupt practices of the Nigerian Police are well depicted in Yorùbá female novels. While there have been several literary works focused on crime and the Nigeria Police in Yorùbá written literature (poem, drama and prose), none has adequately explored this subject as portrayed by Yorùbá female novelists, hence, the need for this study. Using the Sociological Approach with a focus on seven female authored novels (Ikú Jàre, Kò Jẹ́ Jẹ́ Bẹ́ẹ̀, Kò Sí Látẹ, Fúnminíyì, Awọfẹ́lẹ́ Bonú, Ọ̀tafàsókè 1 and Ọ̀tafàsókè 2), this study examines how female Yorùbá novelists portray the Nigerian Police and their handling of criminal cases in their novels. Findings from this research reveal that Yorùbá female novelists portray the Nigeria Police Force as a rotten agency where majority of the officers are unrepentantly corrupt, with only a few of them exhibiting good character.