The Use of Podcasts in Enhancing Listening Comprehension

This study evaluated the use of podcasts in enhancing the listening comprehension level of the Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English second-year students of Trinidad Municipal College, in the school year 2024-2025. The researcher observed that there was still a need for the students to develop their listening comprehension level despite already having the ability and proficiency to listen. Mainly motivated to address this issue, the researcher investigated the effectiveness of using podcasts in enhancing students’ listening comprehension. The researcher employed a simple crossover design that incorporated one (1) pretest and two (2) posttests, administering them after each intervention phase. The study combined audio-recorded materials, podcasts, and researcher-made questionnaires to determine the effectiveness of podcasts in enhancing listening comprehension. The researcher conducted the two intervention phases using two methods: podcast-assisted instruction and teacher-assisted instruction, switching them after the first intervention period. After the data were tallied and interpreted, the study found that the respondents struggled with their listening comprehension skills as they fell within the Frustration Level before the intervention, highlighting the importance of using interventions. Podcast-assisted instruction proved highly effective, especially when introduced earlier in the learning sequence, as it significantly advanced the respondents’ scores from Frustration Level to Instructional Level and Independent Level, building a stronger foundation for learning. Teacher-assisted instruction also enhanced the respondents’ listening comprehension skills, but its impact was more significant when preceded by podcasts. While both methods showed benefits, the sequence of instruction influenced the results, with a sudden switch between methods potentially hindering progress. Early exposure to podcast-assisted instruction demonstrated a more lasting positive effect on listening skills. This study proposed the early integration of podcast-assisted instruction, ensuring continuity between learning methods and providing additional assistance during transitions to optimize students’ listening comprehension and skill retention.