EFL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD THE USE OF PODCASTS AS A LANGUAGE LEARNING MEDIUM TO INCREASE LEARNING INTEREST

Abstract

Podcasts offer a free and entertaining way of acquiring content that cuts across every discipline, including language acquisition. Thus, they can be used in classrooms worldwide to foster student engagement and increase access to target languages. This study evaluated the potential of podcasts to elicit interest in learning among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. The authors employed a mixed-methods approach to provide a holistic view of students' podcast use, perceived usefulness, and challenges faced. Data were collected by administering a structured questionnaire to 42 EFL students representing various educational backgrounds. The descriptive data collected demographic information, current podcast usage, perceptions about podcasts always, and estimated impact on learning interest. Attitudes toward podcasts with different demographic variables were compared with independent t-tests. Results suggest that students positively perceive the use of podcasts for learning. Moreover, there is a significant positive relationship between the use of podcasting media and its perceived impact on learning.

Keywords: EFL; podcast; language; learning attitudes; learning interest.