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

Abstract

Abstract: This study was undertaken to examine the importance of social media in providing opportunities for EFL skills development beyond the classroom, and to assess the impact of engaging with real-world texts and authentic tasks for receptive skills. Both aspects were combined in the general research objective of analyzing the impact of the use of authentic listening material through WhatsApp on students of EFL in out-of-classroom settings. To this end, the research studied a class of second-grade, high-school students (n=21) in Ambato, Ecuador. The students, of an A2 to B2 level, participated in authentic listening activities through WhatsApp over a three-week period. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires, observation notes and open-ended interview questions. The data were triangulated to provide a valid basis for analysis. The study found that both WhatsApp and authentic listening is highly engaging and motivating for students of this age-group. However, any real impact on comprehension skills would need to be measured in future longitudinal studies.