The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Hawaii 2021 Official Conference Proceedings

Abstract

Use of online learning opportunities among language teachers and learners has become one of the commonly utilized tools as they provide effective means (convenient, accessible, authentic and sometimes free) to learn a foreign language. Research shows that online learning opportunities, particularly YouTube -a popular video sharing and viewing platform creates more meaningful and independent learning environment (e.g. Alhamami, 2013; Benson, 2015; Lacy, 2008), compared to other conventional way of learning a foreign language. This research reports on how two English language lecturers at a Mongolian University used stories available free of charge on YouTube to help students improve their listening and transfer of skills such as pronunciation, reading comprehension, note taking and speaking. This research project was initiated because of an increased interest to utilize YouTube in learning English from students studying at the University. The two lecturers took the students' desire on board and developed learning tasks for students to do independently outside the classroom (hereinafter self-independent work) using stories on YouTube. The fact that students were already using YouTube to learn English outside the curriculum was a positive start to the research project. The research project was implemented for a period of one year among first year English as a foreign language (EFL) students. The study results show that when learning content is easily accessible (ability to listen outside the classroom, on their phones, when travelling and walking etc.) and when there is a genuine desire to listen to an interesting story of their choice, students are more likely to effectively work on the learning tasks associated with the stories which in turn helped them to develop their language skills efficiently. However, limited access to WiFi or Internet, not seeking available support to execute the task were issues to develop the skills and independent learning style, despite a strong desire to learn English using YouTube.