Lectures’ Perceptions of Podcasts as Effective Learning Media to Improve English Speaking Skill at Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram

Podcasts are a flexible digital audio-based learning media because they can be accessed online or offline anytime and anywhere, thus supporting independent learning and mobile learning. Podcasts present content in the form of conversations with various topics and language styles, including native speakers' pronunciation and expressions, providing an authentic learning experience. The application of podcasts in the classroom does not escape the role of educators as facilitators. Therefore, this study aims to explore lecturers' perceptions of the use of podcasts as a learning medium in improving English speaking skills, specifically their effectiveness, role, supporting features, as well as challenges and strategies for their use. The research subjects were two lecturers of Listening and Speaking courses at Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram. Qualitative methods with interviews were used and analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana (2014) framework. Results showed lecturers' positive perspectives towards podcasts to help with vocabulary acquisition, pronunciation, sentence structure, and colloquial expressions as well as grammar development with lecturer guidance. Flexible features enable self-directed learning with repetition of material as needed. Challenges include limited facilities, differences in students' listening skills, and difficulty maintaining concentration. Lecturers overcome obstacles with additional assignments and interactive activities such as role-playing and making mini podcasts. It is recommended to develop a systematic podcast-based learning guide to improve the effectiveness of speaking skills and grammar comprehension.