The use of authentic material through WhatsApp in teaching listening skills in EFL out-of-classroom settings.

Abstract

Abstract: The present research focused on the use of authentic materials through WhatsApp for teaching listening skills in contexts outside the classroom students of English as a second language. The objective of this research was determine the impact of the use of these materials shared through WhatsApp on the improving listening skills of English learners. A total of eleven students from second year of high school from a private school in Ambato, Ecuador, participated in this study. A WhatsApp group was created where authentic materials were presented: a series of real interviews and episodes of a popular television series. At the end of project, participants filled out surveys to share their perceptions, and the teacher of the group was interviewed to collect information related to the use of this application, its advantages and disadvantages for practicing listening skills. HE concluded that WhatsApp is a very accessible application that students enjoy using and that they would like to continue using in contexts outside the classroom to improve their listening skills.