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-class settings, aims to determine the impact of the use of authentic material provided through WhatsApp in improving EFL students' listening skills in out-of-class settings. The study was conducted in a public high school in Sucumbíos, Lago Agrio, Ecuador, the participants were fifteen second year BGU students with A2 English level. A mixed methodology was used, which integrated qualitative and quantitative approaches, the instruments used in this study were a questionnaire on the perception of the students, a questionnaire on the advantages and disadvantages of using authentic content through WhatsApp, a questionnaire to the teacher to determine the advantages and disadvantages of using authentic material through WhatsApp, and an observation sheet to get some relevant information about aspects that take place during the observation. In addition, a WhatsApp group was created in which activities with authentic material were implemented through six videos for the students along with instructions asking students to perform exercises, and feedback was provided to the students after each video. The results revealed that authentic materials used through WhatsApp significantly improve listening skills.