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

Abstract

Abstract: The present study entitled The use of authentic material through WhatsApp in teaching listening skills in EFL out-of-classroom settings aims to determine the impact of using authentic material delivered through WhatsApp in enhancing the listening skills of EFL learners in out-of-classroom settings. The study was conducted in a public high school in Cuenca, Ecuador, the participants were eleven students in the second year of BGU with an English level of B1. A mixed methodology was employed, which integrated qualitative and quantitative data collection, the instruments utilized in this study were a questionnaire on student's perception, a questionnaire regarding the advantages and disadvantages of using authentic content via WhatsApp, a questionnaire to the teacher overseeing the course, and an observation sheet. Furthermore, a WhatsApp group was created in which activities with authentic material were implemented through six listening videos for the students along with question-asking exercises, and after each video, feedback was provided to the students. The results revealed that authentic materials used through WhatsApp significantly improve listening skills.