Effects of Podcasting on Saudi EFL Learners’ Mastery of Simple Past Irregular Verbs and Their Attitudes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1503.17Keywords:
podcasting, grammar instruction, EFL grammar instruction, irregular verbs, grammarAbstract
As a modern language-learning method, podcasting has proved effective for teaching and learning different language skills. This study investigates the impact of using preexisting audio-only grammar podcasts to supplement the learning of simple past irregular verbs and their effects on students’ perceptions of incorporating podcasts into grammar teaching. The participants were 72 Saudi female learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) enrolled in a grammar course at a Saudi university. They were divided into control (n = 36) and experimental (n = 36). The data was collected through a pretest and posttest on simple past irregular verbs and a questionnaire to measure the participants’ attitudes toward using grammar podcasts in grammar teaching. The results revealed that grammar podcasts positively affected the students’ mastery of irregular verbs in the categories of “affirmative statements (verbal and nominal)” and “yes/no questions”. However, specific subcategories did not show improvement after the podcast intervention, including “identifying correct irregular verb forms”, “wh- questions”, “yes/no answers”, and “negative statements”. In addition, the study found that the learners’ positive attitudes toward using podcasts increased due to their exposure to grammar podcasts. The findings may offer EFL teachers insights into how to implement preexisting audio-only grammar podcasts to improve students’ understanding of irregular verbs and how to use them to supplement grammar instruction. Furthermore, grammar podcasts may maximize teaching efficiency by allowing students to listen to the material at their convenience, regardless of location or time.
References
Al Qasim, N., & Al Fadda, H. (2013). From call to mall: The effectiveness of podcast on EFL higher education students' listening comprehension. English Language Teaching, 6(9), 30-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n9p30
Azar, B. S. (1992). Fundamentals of English grammar. 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Regents/Prentice Hall.
Bozavli, E. (2024). The effects of intensive English podcast listening on high school students’ comprehension skills and impact on learning motivations. Arab World English Journals, 15(1), 314-326. https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol15no1.20
Brown, A. B., Brown, C., Fine, B., Luterbach, K., Sugar, W., & Vinciguerra, D. C. (2009). Instructional uses of podcasting in online learning environments: A cooperative inquiry study. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 37(4), 351-371. https://doi.org/10.2190/ET.37.4.b
Chaikovska, O. (2018). Podcasts in teaching ESL. Pedagogics, 16, 142-146. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329508222_Podcasts_in_teaching_ESL
Chaikovska, O. (2020). The impact of podcasts created with audacity on improving grammar skills. Electronic Scientific Professional Edition "Open Educational E-Environment of The Modern University", 8, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.28925/2414-0325.2020.8.1
Debata, P. K. (2013). The importance of grammar in the English language teaching-A reassessment. India: Language in India, 13(5), 482–486. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from http://www.languageinindia.com/may2013/pradeepgrammarfinal.pdf
Elturki, E. (2014). An investigation of grammar problems facing English language learners. Humanizing Language Teaching, 16(2), 1-12. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://repository.uksw.edu/bitstream/123456789/23716/2/T1_112016108_Full%20text.pdf
Farshi, N., & Mohammadi, Z. (2013). Use of podcasts in effective teaching of vocabulary: learners' attitudes, motivations and limitations. Theory and practice in language studies, 3(8), 1381. Retrieved September 24, 2024, form http://www.academypublication.com/issues/past/tpls/vol03/08/11.pdf
Fernandez, V., Simo, P., & Sallan, J. M. (2009). Podcasting: A new technological tool to facilitate good practice in higher education. Computers & Education, 53(2), 385-392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2009.02.014
Istanto, J. W., & Indrianti, I. (2011). Pelangi Bahasa Indonesia podcast: What, why and how. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 8(1), 371-384. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://e-flt.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/v8s12011/istanto.pdf
James, C. (1998). Errors in language learning and use exploring error analysis. London and New York: Longman.
Kay, R. H. (2012). Exploring the use of video podcasts in education: A comprehensive review of the literature. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(3), 820-831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.01.011
Kelly, W. & Klein, J. (2016). The effect of type of podcasts and learning styles on language proficiency and confidence. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 44(4), 421-429. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239515617159
Kusumawardhani, P. (2020). Teaching simple past tense in writing to EFL by using YouTube. Proceeding Aiselt, 4(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.30870/aiselt.v4i4.11056
Lauer, J. (2009). Podcast power: Hiroshima university’s new English listening materials. Hiroshima Studies in Language and Language Education, 12, 85-94. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://typeset.io/journals/hiroshima-studies-in-language-and-language-education-nej5oej5
Lazzari, M. (2008). Creative use of podcasting in higher education and its effect on competitive agency. Computers & Education, 52(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2008.06.002
Liu, Y., & McCombs, S. (2008). Portable education: Learning on the go. In T. T. Kidd & H. Song (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Instructional Systems and Technology (pp. 216-248). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.
McGarr, O. (2009). A review of podcasting in higher education: Its influence on the traditional lecture. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3). https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.1136
Mohammed, A. & Al-Ahdal, A. (2020). Overcoming pronunciation hurdles in EFL settings: An evaluation of podcasts as a learning tool at Qassim university Saudi Arabia. Asian EFL Journal, 27(1), 86-101. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://ssrn.com/abstract=3570621
Murphy, R. (2007). Essential grammar in use. 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press.
Najilah, I., Sudirman, A., & Munawaroh, T. (2024). The effectiveness of speedy English grammar application on students’ grammar mastery in simple past tense. JEPAL (Journal of English Pedagogy and Applied Linguistics), 4(2), 137-149. https://doi.org/10.32627/jepal.v4i2.876
Nathan, P., & Chan, A. (2007). Engaging undergraduates with podcasting in a business subject. In Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) Annual Conference (pp. 747-751). Centre for Educational Development, Nanyang Technological University. Retrieved June 20, 2024, from https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/engaging-undergraduates-with-podcasting-in-a-business-subject
Nguyen, D. (2011). Effectiveness of podcast lectures in English-writing courses for foreign-born learners at California Bay-area community colleges. (Order No. 3507049, University of Phoenix). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 175. Retrieved June 20, 2024, from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1011655621/previewPDF/504B1A6F469E40C4PQ/1?accountid=15247
Perez, C. P., Vigil, M. A. G., Nikleva, D. G., Jimenez, M. A. J., Molina, M. T. L., Pino Morales, F. F. & Rodriguez, L. S. (2011). The Esepod project: Improving listening skills through mobile learning. Proceedings of the 4th International ICT for Language Learning. Retrieved January 7, 2025, from https://hdl.handle.net/10481/89434
Priyatmojo, A. R., Widhiyanto, W., and Suprapti, S. (2022). English podcast as media for English language learning: A case of higher education in the pandemic situation. Journal of Language and Literature, 16(2), 255-263. https://doi.org/10.15294/lc.v16i2.36352
Qiang, W. & Klein, J. (2013). Effects of podcasts and learning styles on language proficiency and attitudes. 36th Annual Convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology., Anaheim, California. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED546877.pdf#page=175
Rachmaniputri, F. I., Purnawarman, P., & Gunawan, M. H. (2021, April). Students’ perceptions towards the use of podcasts in listening class. In Thirteenth Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 2020) (pp. 179-187). Atlantis Press. 10.2991/assehr.k.210427.028
Rajic, S. T. A. J. K. A. (2013, September). Educational use of podcast. In The Fourth International Conference on e-Learning (pp. 90-94). Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://elearning.metropolitan.ac.rs/files/pdf/2013/15-stajka-rajic-educational-use-of-podcast.pdf
Rosell-Aguilar, F. (2007). Top of the pods—In search of a podcasting “podagogy” for language learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 20(5), 471-492. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588220701746047
Samad, P., & Paris, N. (2023). A Study on EFL Learners’ ability in using irregular verb through Johnny grammar word challenge application. INDOPEDIA (Jurnal Inovasi Pembelajaran Dan Pendidikan), 1(2), 360–366. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://indopediajurnal.my.id/index.php/jurnal/article/view/44
Şendağ, S., Gedik, N., Caner, M., & Toker, S. (2019). Use of podcasts in mobile assisted language learning: Instructor-led intensive listening and mobile extensive listening. Mersin University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 15(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.17860/mersinefd.455649
Stanley, G. (2006). Podcasting: Audio on the Internet comes of age. TESL-EJ, 9(4). Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://tesl-ej.org/ej36/int.pdf
Suseno, E. (2023). Using the podcast contents to help EFL students in improving their grammar and pronunciation. Journal Corner of Education, Linguistics, and Literature, 3(2), 108–120. https://doi.org/10.54012/jcell.v3i2.199
Sze, P. M. M. (2006). Developing students' listening and speaking skills through ELT podcasts. Education Journal, 34(2), 115-134. Retrieved July 7, 2024, from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/103187/
Thompson, L. (2007). Podcasting: The ultimate learning experience and authentic assessment. ICT: Providing choices for learners and learning. Proceedings of Asciilite, Singapore. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=710d0615038978901731fb33644da62b81acde40
Thorne, S. L., & Payne, J. S. (2005). Evolutionary trajectories, Internet-mediated expression, and language education. CALICO Journal, 22(3), 371-397. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24147931
Urbina, J. (2022). Using podcast to teach grammar to English language learners. Doctoral Dissertation. Greensboro College.
Yao, N. & Zuo, M. (2009). Using VOA special English to improve advanced English learners’ productive use of high frequency words. English Teaching Forum, 47(3), 26-37. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:60333702
