EFL student use and perceptions of podcast for extensive listening

Podcast is recently gaining more popularity among English learners who wish to improve their listening skills since it offers various types of topics discussed in an online audio form. This study aims to investigate how students use Podcast and their perceptions of its use as a self-learning medium for English listening skill. This study used survey involving 44 students from the English Language Education Department at a renowned private university in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. To support the survey data, in-depth interviews were also conducted involving four survey participants. The findings suggest that most respondents use Podcast to improve their vocabulary, learn pronunciation, and practice speaking skills. Furthermore, the respondents perceive Podcasts as an effective medium to learn English, especially for practicing listening skills. They can independently learn English anywhere and anytime without teachers’ instruction, which can boost their motivation to improve listening skills. This study implies the potentials of Podcast to support autonomous and informal language learning outside of the formal classroom settings.