Exploring the Students’ Perception Towards the Use of Podcast in Listening Skill

Abstract

This study is with the intention of exploring the use of podcasts as a learning medium as well as the research findings about students’perceptions towards podcasts, which explain either the benefits or drawbacks of podcasts’ implementation as a learning process. Furthermore, this study was conducted at English Studio as an English course located in Pare, Kediri, and East Java involved six students. To gain the data, the researcher use qualitative research and conducted interviews with each of the English Studio students acting as a sample, asking questions related to the theme known as students’ perceptions towards the use of podcasts in listening ability. The research conducted showed that most students gave a positive impression of podcasts, particularly in listening ability; they argued that podcasts were able to contribute to their learning process. There are three types of podcasts that students have a tendency to listen to: conversation, monologue, and interview podcasts. Also, this research found that podcasts could not only affect and enhance students’ motivation but also flourish their English skills, including pronunciation and vocabulary. In contrast, while listening to podcasts, students often found it difficult to comprehend the sentences and what the speakers were talking about. This was occasionally caused by a lack of vocabulary and accent. What is more, the challenges came from the duration of podcasts. Students found that it was too long, which made them lazy to listen and made them feel bored and less interested.