Learning through Podcasts: Effectiveness of Integrating a Podcast-Based Learning Project into an English Course in Taiwan

探討台灣大學生對於運用播客於英文課堂中之成效及可行性

王鈺琪(Yu-Chi Wang)

《逢甲人文社會學報》 42期 (2021/06) Pp. 53-93

摘要

Podcasts have gained increasing popularity in recent years and many language teachers have incorporated podcast programs into language classrooms. Previous literature has suggested integrating podcasts as supplementary materials to improve students' language development, learning motivation, and confidence. The present study examined university students' perceptions of incorporating a podcast-based learning project and the learning effects in an English course in a university in Taiwan, and also explored factors that influenced the implementation of the podcast project. Participants involved fifty-five students who enrolled in Business English Conversation course. Data including student questionnaires, mock TOEIC listening tests, semi-structured student interviews, the teacher's observational field notes, and students' assignments from nine weeks' podcast-based learning project were analyzed using mixed methods to investigate students' perceptions of the efficacy of creating podcasts as a means of English language acquisition. The findings of the study generally revealed students' positive attitude toward the podcasts project. However, students lacked technical skills in podcasting and issues regarding students' diverse language proficiency levels and curriculum design all influenced the implementation of the podcast project. The findings of the study suggest that podcasts can be served as effective supplementary tools to foster language learning and teaching. It is hoped that the findings of the study can help shed light on the incorporation of multi-media into language learning and curriculum design.

關鍵字

podcast ； language learning ； learner's perception ； English as a foreign language (EFL)

並列摘要

在過去的幾年，播客（Podcast）是在台灣逐步起飛的產業。也有愈來愈多的英語教師融入播客內容於課室學習中。過去的文獻指出，播客可以用來提升學生的語言能力、學習動機和自信心，但是在台灣，運用播客於英語研究仍在探索階段。本研究旨在探討大學生對於運用播客於英文課堂中的看法及學習成效。透過課室研究實驗，討論運用播客於課堂中的可行性及優缺點。研究對象為55位修習英文選修課程的大學生，一共進行為期9週的課堂活動。研究資料包涵了課堂學習問卷、英語聽力測驗前後測、結構式學生訪談、教師課室觀察日誌和學生的作業。學生問卷採量化研究工具來分析學生對於運用播客於語言學習的看法及英語聽力的影響。學生訪談資料、教師觀察日誌及學生作業則以質性分析工具來歸納探討播客內容於英文課堂中的優缺點。研究結果顯示，大部分的學生對於課堂內的播客學習活動皆表示正向的回饋。播客學習活動也有助於英語聽力和口說能力的提升，建立語言學習自信心及動機，並增加同儕互動的機會。然而，學生對於使用播客技術知識的經驗，課程設計的細節以及學生的語言能力等問題都是影響運用播客於英文課堂成敗的因素。研究結果建議，播客可以作為英語教師用來促進語言學習和教學的有效補充資源。

並列關鍵字

播客 ； 英語學習 ； 學習者態度 ； 英語為外國語

參考文獻

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