Songs or Podcasts? Understanding EFL Learners' Listening Habits in Developing Listening Abilities, Vocabulary Acquisition and Pronunciation Skills

Abstract

The current study investigated the impact of English songs and podcasts on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ listening abilities, vocabulary acquisition, and pronunciation skills. The study aimed to compare EFL learners’ preferences and perceptions regarding songs and podcasts. A questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and closed-ended questions was used as a research tool in order to collect the necessary quantitative and qualitative data to answer the research questions and test the hypotheses. The sample of the study was third year bachelor’ students at the department of English, University of Ain Temouchent, Belhadj Bouchaib, Algeria. The results obtained from analyzing the accumulated data using both descriptive and thematic analyses, revealed that both English songs and podcasts are effective for EFL learning. While songs are preferred for improving listening skills, podcasts are favored for vocabulary expansion. Pronunciation improvement shows a balanced preference between the two. These findings show the importance of incorporating these media tools in EFL classrooms to promote language proficiency and learner autonomy.