A study on the impact of podcast on learners listening proficiency

Thesis: A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF PODCAST ON LEARNER’S LISTENING PROFICIENCY A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Linguistics at National Taipei Univerisity of Technology By: Duong Van Vu ID: 105548403 Thesis advisor: Prof Michael Tanangkingsing Date of submission: 8th April 2019 Declaration I certify that all the content in this thesis paper is my original work to the best of my knowledge and hard-work Any external source used for reference in the paper has been cited and acknowledged I, hereby, declare that the present paper has not been submitted to any other institution previously i Ackowledgement With tremendous guidance and assistance from professor Michael Tanangkingsing, it has been possible for this research to be completed He has always been very helpful and dedicate with every single detail in different stages of the paper All his valuable comments and suggestions throughout the process not only helped the researcher to finish the work on time, but also it there were many lessons learnt from each time he corrected Therefore I am very much indebted to him for all his hard work To be able to come to this stage of the course, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to professorMichael Tanangkingsing, whose lectures enlightened me the new concepts of English teaching and academic research To every member of my family, who has been providing the best support during the time this research was conducted Without the love, belief, care, and encouragement from my family, this research would have not been possible Finally, I would like to extend my greatest thanks to all teachers and students at Neili High School, who created favorable conditions for the implementation of the study Besides, I am thankful to my classmates at department of English, NTUT for their good wishes and co-operation ii Abstract Grasping the skills of speaking and listening are an essential part of English learning Through the years, new learning methods have been introduced to the learning world Amid all the tools and based on personal experience, learning English through podcast seems to be an option that might prove to be effective The present paper is designed as an experiment to seek insights into how listening to English podcast helps learners at the Neili High School, Taoyuan, Taiwan enhance their listening proficiency The research involved the cooperation of 52 first-year, non-English majors at the aforementioned school Students received pre-test (given at the initial stage), and a posttest (at the end of the course) as part of the study They were divided into two groups, one being the controlled group that received regular training from class, while the experimental group received podcast lessons including conversational dialogues, podcast dialogue analysis, PDF extra notes, and review lessons The podcast dialogue analysis was the main part of a podcast lesson Every audio helps learners to listen and comprehend the content of the dialogue in depth with abundant examples of vocabulary and more listening input After the experimental period of six consecutive weeks, all learners from the two groups sat for a post-test to assess the effectiveness of podcast learning Results from the experiment suggested that learners who were exposed to podcast lessons better performed at English listening skills iii Table of Contents CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION Declaration _i Acknowledgements _ii Abstracts _iii Table of contents _iv List of figures _vi List of tables vii 1.1 Motivation _1 1.2 Objectives and research questions _2 1.2.1 Objectives _2 1.2.2 Research questions _2 1.3 Organization of the paper CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 English language education in Taiwan _3 2.2 English language teaching and learning in Taiwan 2.3 The current English teaching trend in Taiwanese state schools _4 2.2 English listening skills 2.2.1 English listening – importance and the know-how 2.2.2 Types of listening _7 2.3 Podcast in teaching and learning English listening skill 2.3.1 Use of technology in teaching and learning English listening _8 2.3.2 Podcast as an Innovative Teaching Tool 2.3.3 Perceptions and Attitudes toward Podcasts 10 2.4 Podcast and education 11 2.4.1 Podcast Lectures for ESL and EFL Learning 11 2.4.2 Type of podcast and its benefits 13 2.4.3 Previous studies on podcast in learning 14 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Participants 18 3.1.1 Participant recruitment 18 iv 3.1.2 Participants’ background 18 3.2 Procedure 19 3.3 Treatment 20 3.4 Instrument _22 3.4.1 Podcast lessons 22 3.4.2 Evaluation 23 3.4.3 Testing materials _24 3.4.4 Interview _25 3.5 Data analysis 26 CHAPTER IV: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Results from the tests _27 4.2 Results from the interview _30 4.3 Discussion of results 33 Conclusion and implementation for further studies _34 References Appendices v List of Figures Figure 1: Research procedure Figure 2: Score range of the experimental group Figure 3: Score range of the controlled group Figure 4: Results of the interview vi List of tables Table 1: Structure of a lesson Table 2: Pre-test summary Table 3: Results of the experimental group Table 4: Results of the controlled group vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Motivation Many dynamic approaches have emerged due to computer technology in facilitating language learning skills Podcast is one the newly appeared tool being exploited by teachers to deliver educational content and to encourage learning outside the classroom Research on podcasting pedagogy suggests that podcast learning greatly helps learners develop various skills of English language Podcast is a combination of the terms pod (i.e., from the Apple iPod) and broadcast (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 2007) Podcasts are series of digital audio and video recordings uploaded on the web with the aid of Rapid Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds (Lafferty & Walch, 2006) RSS feeds allow listeners to download their favourite podcasts using podcatcher software like iTunes Listeners not need to visit every website frequently for new podcast episodes; they can now find a huge collection of podcasts on iTunes store Many types of podcasts are found on the Internet such as television podcasts, radio podcasts, classroom podcasts, and individual or group podcasts As a former learner of English, the researcher also tried out many methods for learning this particular language, like listening to VOA American news, “English Pictionary”, or English videos on YouTube However, none of them really worked out well until the application of a Podcast series called “EnglishPod” particularly devoted to teaching English Magically, the new learning method inspired learning and each day of learning was a new experience After roughly months of continuous listening to EnglishPod, I felt more confident in communicating for my vocabulary and listening had improved conisderably Having Podcast makes me feel that learning a language is so much easier than from a textbook Therefore, I wanted to prove that it is really effective I started to subcribe for a ChinesePod site and after half a year I am speaking fluent Chinese Still not convinced, I tried subcribing to the JapanesePod101 site, and within the same six-month period of time, I am speaking fluent Japanese To this point, I am persuaded that Podcast is really an innovative language learning tool that might be able to help thousands, if not millions of learners in my country specifically 1.2 Objectives and research questions 1.2.1 Objectives As globalization has started to develop in recent decades, the demand for learning English has grown faster than ever before However, though schools and students realize the importance of developing English proficiency, numerous are still struggling to find appropriate ways to master this language Motivated from this constraint, I decided to conduct this study aiming to evaluate how English podcast helps learners, particularly first-year non-English major students at Neili High School enhance their English listening proficiency Further, the study also wishes to investigate how English podcast motivate learners in studying and overcoming the fear of communication through listening and exposure to native-like situations It is highly likely that using English learning podcast lessons help students excel at their English listening proficiency 1.2.2 Research questions Based on what I found from the review of literature and the objectives of the study, I seek answers to the two following questions How podcast lessons help learners at Neili High School enhance their English listening skills? What are learners’ perception of podcast usage in English learning? 1.3 Organization of the paper Chapter one of the paper will introduce the researcher’s motivation for conducting this research, as well as the objective and research questions of the paper Chapter two will discuss the ongoing trend occurring within the scope of this study and previous studies that were done in regard to podcast learning Chapter three will provide the method which the study is designed to follow, including participants, duration, instrument, and the procedure APPENDIX 1: Structure of podcast lessons Day Lesson name Topic Week Day Difficult customer Business - Restaurant service Day Calling in sick Business – office situation Day Hotel upgrade Business - Hotel service Day I need an assistant Business - Office situations Day Cut in line Daily life Day Road trip Daily life - Travel Week Day Virus! Technology-Computer problems Day What’s your name again? Daily life Day Silence please! Daily life - cinema Day 10 I am in debt Business - consulting Day 11 Turn left here Daily life - Traffic Day 12 Here comes the bride Daily life – Marriage Week Day 13 I can see clearly now Daily life – health check Day 14 Making an appointment Daily life Day 15 What should we eat Daily life Day 16 New Year’s resolution Daily life Day 17 Asking for time off Business – office situation Day 18 Canceling an appointment Business – office situation Week Day 19 Foul! Sports Day 20 I’m sorry! I love you! Daily life Day 21 My new boyfriend Daily life Day 22 Can I ask you a favor Daily life 40 Day 23 I need more time Business - excuses Day 24 Small talk Daily life - friendship Week Day 25 What a bargain Daily life – shopping Day 26 Pizza delivery Business – delivery Day 27 Planning a bank robbery Daily life – crime Day 28 Malfunction Daily life – computer problems Day 29 Swim faster Sports Day 30 Receptionist Business – office situations Week Day 31 Soccer Sports Day 32 How would you like your egg? Daily life – cooking Day 33 Which finger? Daily life Day 34 Going to the dentist Daily life – healthcare Day 35 Learning simple math Daily life – education Day 36 Getting a haircut Daily life – health care 41 APPENDIX SAMPLE PODCAST LESSON Daily Life - Cut In Line (C0005) A: I can’t believe it took us two hours to get here The traffic in New York is unbelievable B: Yeah, but just relax honey, we’re here and we’re going on vacation In a few hours we’ll be in Hawaii, and you’ll be on the golf course A: Oh no! Look at that line! It must be a mile long! There’s no way I’m waiting for another two hours B: C: A: Honey don’t Hey man, the end of the line is over there Yeah Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version) 2008 Praxis Language Ltd C: No seriously, I was here first, and you can’t cut in line like this A: Says who? C: I do! A: So sue me! C: Alright that’s it Key Vocabulary unbelievable Adjective incredible, amazing The food in this restaurant is unbelievable It is delicious be a mile long phrase is very long relax verb Calm down John needs to relax when he is stressed Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version) 2008 Praxis Language Ltd cut in line phrase move in front of someone waiting in line Please not cut in line You should respect other people there’s no way phrase it’s impossible This math question is hard There is no way I finish it on time Supplementary Vocabulary phrase traffic jam a few hours from now phrase many cars not moving on the road soon, hours in a couple of phrase to get in line phrase cut in line ( Br E) stand in line phrase wait in line line up phrase form a line form a queue jump queue the Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version) 2008 Praxis Language Ltd Grammar focus Tobe + V-ing for future expression This expression is used to refer to something that will surely happen in the coming future Examples: a We are traveling to France next week b My son is having a test tomorrow c John’s parents are visiting him in a few hours Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version) 2008 Praxis Language Ltd APPENDIX Sample Listening Test APPENDIX 4: Consent form Informed Consent Form (National Taipei University of Technology) Dear student, I am a Master student at Department of English of National Taipei University of Technology I am studying Linguistics Some relevant information is as follows I Title: A Study on the Application of English Podcasting in Improving Learners’ Listening Proficiency II Description: I am conducting a study on the effect of Podcast on English listening skills for students at the International School of Thai Nguyen University The study will be an indication for the effectiveness of this new form of learning that can be applied into future English classroom III Procedures: If you agree to take part in this research, you will be learning your listening hours (in preparation for the entrance exam) with English podcast lessons, in the computer resource center The study is due in (six) weeks in total, starting from January 2nd to February 21th IV Potential Benefits: In return fro joining this study, you will have a chance to experience for yourself a new way of learning with more teacher-learner interaction Listening classes with Podcast will be more active than your original ones, incorperating discussion activities, extra materials and peer learning In addition, there will be vouchers worth $200 in total given to the top five excellent individuals towards the end of the course V Potential Risks: There are no risks for you in joining this study Participant: I have read this consent form, and understand the content of this form I have been given an opportunity to ask any questions I have, and all such questions have been answered to my satisfaction I understand that my participation in this research will be confidential Only the researcher will have access to my identity and data that can be associated with my identity I understand that I will receive a signed copy of this consent form for my record I understand that I will not receive any compensation for participating I also understand that my participation is voluntary and that I can stop participating in the study at any time I know that I can decline to answer any specific questions without penalty I hereby agree to participate in this study Participant’s Signature Date Researcher: I certify that the informed consent procedure has been followed, and that I have answered any questions from the participant above as fully as possible Researcher’s Signature _ Date Contact Persons Researcher Name: Duong Van Vu Email: duongvutnu@gmail.com Phone No.: +886 971 641 832 Thesis Advisor Name: Michael Tanangkingsing Email: miguel@ntut.edu.tw Tel: +8862 2771 2171 - #3938