English Listening via Online Applications: Tool-mediated Language Learning by EFL University Students

Abstract

This study probes into what features of online applications assist English language listening and how EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students use the features to practice listening. Five EFL university students were recruited to use online applications to practice listening for five weeks. During this period, the students chose to use 12 online applications: Daily Dictation, English Central, TEDEd, English Daily, BBC Learning English, Cake, Wannalisn, Easy English, VOA Learning English, British Council Learn English Podcasts, Test English Listening, and Talk English. Data were collected from their journals, interviews, and visual analysis. The results indicate that the students applied self-directed learning to practice listening. They acknowledged the technological features of online applications that could ease their learning by providing personalized learning suggestions, engaging them in listening activities, giving timely feedback and correcting errors. They also revealed that the digital technological tools mediated their listening practice, resulting in the ability to work on higher-level listening activities, learning more vocabulary, and better English pronunciation. From the study' findings, implications for online language learning are discussed with reference to making use of the online application features to mediate their listening more effectively.