EXPLORING THE USE OF TED TALKS FOR IMPROVING LISTENING SKILL IN EFL CLASSROOM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31851/5p6kjp34Keywords:
TED Talks, listening skills, authentic materials, EFL learners, Classroom Action ResearchAbstract
Listening is a crucial language skill that enables learners to acquire linguistic input and develop communicative competence. However, many EFL students experience difficulties in understanding authentic spoken English due to factors such as rapid speech, unfamiliar vocabulary, and pronunciation variations. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of TED Talks as authentic listening materials for improving students’ listening skills in an EFL classroom. The research employed a quantitative Classroom Action Research (CAR) design involving 25 eleventh-grade students at a senior high school in Indonesia. The study was conducted in two cycles consisting of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting stages. Data were collected through listening tests, observation sheets, and field notes. The findings revealed a significant improvement in students’ listening achievement. The mean score increased from 67.20 in the pre-cycle to 76.40 in Cycle I and further improved to 84.60 in Cycle II. Moreover, the percentage of students achieving the minimum mastery criterion increased from 28% to 60% and finally reached 88%. Classroom observations also indicated higher levels of engagement and participation. These results suggest that TED Talks are effective authentic listening materials for enhancing listening comprehension and supporting more engaging learning experiences in EFL classrooms.
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