Applying Performed Culture Approach to Podcasting: Learner Perception and Engagement with an Audio-only Chinese Language Podcast

Audio podcasting, by allowing people to access learning materials on the go, can be an ideal technology for promoting foreign language learning. However, the existing audio podcasts for beginning-level Chinese language learners focus more on presenting information than promoting listener participation in intercultural communication. To explore an alternative, this study experimented with developing a podcast that demands constant participation by applying the core principles of the Performed Culture Approach (PCA). An investigation of learner perception and engagement with the podcast reveals learner preferences for language learning environments, which have important implications for innovating foreign language curricula.