Using TED Talks as Authentic Materials to Enhance High School Students’ English Listening Skills

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that educational media delivered via TED Talks effectively stimulates students’ interest and improves English listening skills. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the effects of incorporating TED Talks as authentic materials on English listening skills of eleventh-grade students at a high school in Ho Chi Minh City. The study also explores students’ perceptions of the use of TED Talks to improve listening skills. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, employing both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques, including pre-and post-tests, the questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews with the participation of 80 eleventh-grade students divided into experimental and control groups. The findings revealed that TED Talks improve students’ English listening skills, and that most students perceived TED Talks as beneficial for enhancing listening skills. However, challenges associated with learning listening from TED Talks were also acknowledged. Based on the findings, pedagogical implications and recommendations are offered for teachers and students to optimize the integration of TED Talks in English listening practice.