خلاصة:
The current study intended to investigate the attitudes of Iranian intermediate EFL
learners toward using British Council video clips and podcasts for listening
comprehension. The participants were selected from among 132 intermediate
learners based on their performance on an English proficiency test. 90 female EFL
learners were selected and divided into three groups of 30 participants (i.e., one
control group and two experimental groups). One of the experimental groups
practiced British Council video clips while the other experimental group was
instructed through British Council podcasts. The control group went through the
same lesson plan without any video clips and podcasts. Once the treatment was over,
the attitude questionnaire was administered to all groups. Based on the results of
ANOVA and Scheffe test, it could be concluded that there was a significant
difference between the mean scores of the three groups on the attitude questionnaire.
More specifically, the video clips had the most statistically significant effect on the
positive attitude of intermediate learners in comparison with the other groups.
ملخص الجهاز:
Some researchers have reported that the use of podcasts in the academic environment can increase learners’ motivation toward the language learning in general (Bolliger, Suanakorn, & Boggs, 2010; Fernandez, Simo, & Sallan, 2009).
Therefore, If EFL learners show positive attitudes to apply British Council video clips and podcasts (as the online resource), they will be led to use the video clips or podcasts on this site and practice every day to improve their listening comprehension.
Additionally, British Council website provides many unbelievable video clips and podcasts for EFL learners to increase their English language.
Many scholars claimed that the use of online multimedia input can influence the learners' positive attitudes in the field of language learning (Levine, Ferenz, & Reves, 2000; Rosenbaum, 2012).
According to some studies, the application of podcasts as a new technology can help students to increase their language skills, especially listening skills (O’Bryan & Hegelheimer, 2007; Pun, 2006).
In contrast, some scholars claimed that the use of podcasts can provide disadvantages in teaching and learning process such as having technical limitations, focusing on a passive learning experience (audio or audio/video facility alone) instead of active learning experience ,and providing negative effect learners’ presentation in class (Jham, Durae Strassler, Sensi, 2008 ; Palmer, Devitt, Young, & Morris, 2005).
Based on the previous researches and the present study, it may be concluded that the use of British council video clips can significantly increase learners' attitudes toward listening learning.