Autonomous use of podcasts with metacognitive intervention: Foreign language listening development

Abstract

Podcasts have become a pervasive and easy-to-access input for language learning that may improve both form and meaning aspects of language. This study attempted to investigate some unknown impacts of the autonomous use of podcasts through a metacognitive intervention on 12 adult language learners' listening comprehension with an exploratory approach and using a questionnaire, learners' journals, and semi-structured interviews. The results suggest that autonomous language learners may benefit from multiple advantages of utilizing extensive listening input such as podcasts. Moreover, the learners have a positive attitude toward learning listening with metacognitive strategies and asserted that they aided them to be independent listeners. This study underscores the effectiveness of applying technology-based listening learning in an EFL context where many learners are devoid of sufficient authentic and comprehensible input.

Using Podcast Material to Modify Foreign Words and Expressions to Improve EFL Learners’ Speaking Abilities

“…Podcasts can help language learners in a variety of ways, including by enhancing their vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and listening comprehension. Podcasts can help students learn a variety of language skills, including grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, in addition to speaking and listening (Bozorgian & Shamsi, 2022). For language learners, podcasts can offer authentic and interesting material as well as chances for independent, self-directed learning.…”

Using Podcast Content for Online Debate to Hone Speaking Abilities

“…It is how they can expand their vocabulary. These skills will be used by the students to explain their intentions to others (Bozorgian & Shamsi, 2023). They learn how to give a clear description of something by studying monologue materials.…”

“…Podcasts provide a dynamic and immersive learning environment by exposing students to real-world language, giving interesting and contextualized learning opportunities, delivering a variety of content, promoting vocabulary growth, and improving listening skills. As technology develops, using podcasts as a tool for language learning can surely hasten the process of language acquisition and provide students with the abilities they need to speak effectively in the target language (Bozorgian & Shamsi, 2023).…”

Autonomy-Based Listening: Vietnamese University Students’ Perceptions of Self-Access Web-Based Listening Practices

“…As regards self-access listening, prior studies attempted to increase students' listening exposure beyond the classrooms with the support of a wide array of technological tools from different perspectives. Specifically, Bozorgian and Shamsi (2022) investigated the impacts of the autonomous application of podcasts on 12 adult language learners' listening comprehension. The intervention focused on the use of metacognitive strategies by the students who listened extensively via the podcasts.…”

“…A review of the literature has shown that most studies about SALL focus on language learning in general (e.g., Chung, 2013;Diaz, 2016;Gardner & Miller, 2011;Gardner & Yung, 2017;Morrison, 2008). Regarding self-access listening, prior studies attempted to increase students' exposure to listening outside the classrooms with the aid of a technological tool, such as podcasts (Bozorgian & Shamsi, 2022), Google Classrooms (Melani, 2020), TED Talks (Yang, 2021), mobile devices (Fatimah et al, 2021), etc. Others underscore metacognitive awareness for fostering autonomous listening, including listening logs (Kemp, 2009), self-assessment, and reflection (Ngo, 2020).…”