Impact of podcasting on English learners’ motivation in asynchronous e-learning environment

Abstract

We strongly believe that within the next few years, podcasting is destined to become an important component in the learning environment of the university since educators are trying to integrate the best use of advanced technologies in their courses and remain vigilant to the ever-changing technological landscape. The study aims to validate the idea that podcasts offer teachers a platform to supplement their materials. Despite the potential benefits of podcasts for university education, few researchers have addressed the problem of the influence of podcasting on English learners’ motivation. Based on a survey with 211 students of Rostov State Transport University, this paper focuses on motivational factors for using podcasts when taking an English language course. We found two dimensions of motivating factors (entertainment and convenience) to be prominent for active podcasts use.