JELT : JOURNAL OF ENGLISH EDUCATION, TEACHING, AND LITERATURE- VOL.

02 ISSUE 02 (2024)

JELT
Journal of English Education, Teaching, and Literature
| e-ISSN: 3026-4812 |
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Journal Of English Education

The Power of YouTube to Improve Listening Skills

Widiya Mentari Hakim1, Siti Harahap2 ,Gumarpi Rahis Pasaribu3
1
State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Medan , Indonesian
2
State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Medan, Indonesian
3
STIT Al-Ittihadiyah North Labuhanbatu, Aek Kanopan, Indonesia

KEYWORDS A B S T R A C T
YouTube, Listening, Improve.
This research is motivated by questionnaire data which shows the
achievement of student learning outcomes in the material "The Power of
YouTube to Improve Listening Skills". Researchers conducted action research
aimed at improving student learning outcomes. The objectives to be achieved
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR(S): in this research include 1.) to determine the strength of YouTube in the
English learning process in improving listening skills, and 2.) to determine the
E-mail: [email protected] increase in student learning outcomes by using YouTube. This research was
conducted on students at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra in the
English Language Education Department. This research measures how strong
the role of YouTube is in the teaching and learning process. The research
results show that the respondents agree that YouTube can improve listening
skills with a variety of different content that the respondents access. With this
learning method, students get more interesting learning and can improve good
learning outcomes, not boring and easy for students to accept. From this
research, it is recommended for readers to use learning methods using
YouTube.

INTRODUCTION

Language is an important channel of communication through which we

share our feelings and thoughts with others (Nishanthi, 2018). Learning English
will make it easier to get information from all over the world. Learning English is
very important because English has become an international language. important
aspect of learning English is listening, learners who speak English as a Foreign
Language (EFL) need to listen to English every day if they want to communicate
(Darti & Asmawati, 2017). Listening skills have a significant part in learning
English because receiving language input is A major skill that is important when
learning a language.

There are many ways to improve skills in English, one of which is using
online applications as a medium for listening to learning materials. This makes it
easier for people who want to learn English, in this day and age many applications
are easily accessible to all circles, and one of the media that many people use to

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improve their listening skills is YouTube. YouTube is widely used as a learning

medium because it is easy to use and has diverse content such as music, English
conversations, and cartoons learning animations, and learning videos. Its diverse
content makes it easy for students to choose the right learning media for them and
not get bored easily. Its appearance is also attractive and easy to use. (Mukarrama
et al.2015) stated that Listening as a receptive skill is very important to develop
students’ language competence and performance.

According to Brünner (2016). YouTube is the most popular platform among

students. It is a website where users may locate and submit videos related to their
interests. Furthermore, it is a video library service that is free for everyone who
wants to learn and can be used to develop independent and creative learning
(Latifah & Prastowo, 2020). Indeed, utilizing video to practice listening skills may
provide students with a clear image of how the language is utilized, as well as
climate ambiguities in native speakers' voices and actions.

YouTube has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we consume media and

information. While it is widely known as a platform for entertainment, it also holds
significant potential for educational purposes, particularly in improving listening
skills. Through its vast collection of videos spanning various genres and subjects,
YouTube offers a unique opportunity for language learners to enhance their
listening abilities. This article aims to explore the power of YouTube in improving
listening skills and its potential as a valuable resource for language learners.
Furthermore, learning media can also grab learners' interest in the process of
learning, making it more meaningful (Prayuno & Mardianto, 2020; Rosmiati &
Lestari, 2021).

In this research, a YouTube application was used to improve English

listening Skills. YouTube serves as a medium for discussion, question and answer,
learning, listening, searching, viewing, and sharing videos from all over the world
online. Videos from all over the world online. This media is considered to provide
wider information that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, and can be viewed,
used, and relearned by people. YouTube can give students and teachers freedom of
expression, collaborate in the world of education, and gain valuable experience in
improving the quality of education. In the world of Education, and can gain
valuable experience in improving their capabilities (Wigati, Rahmawati, and Widodo,
2014; Rahim Almoswai and Rashid, 2017; Saputra and Fatimah, 2018).

(Saiful 2019) found that the decision-making of EFL teachers to use YouTube
Vlogs in teaching English vocabulary and expressions and genre-based text in the
classroom was affected by the mental lives of the EFL teachers. These were the
beliefs towards the implication of YouTube videos in language learning and
teaching, the pedagogical content knowledge and the knowledge of students'
characteristics and learning style, and the thinking towards the nature of learning
using YouTube Vlog.

YouTube platform is one audio-visual aid that can help learners improve
their auditory (speech) and synchronizing the word (visual). (Gerbier 2017) stated
that reading a text while listening can encourage the student's interest in focusing
on the course materials. Furthermore, learning a language will be easy to
understand if the teacher uses the correct tools. In short, a good explanation with
suitable instruments will help the teacher and student to be closer and focus on the
material, primarily in listening tasks.

This research is also supported by previous research conducted by Hanna

and Caroline (2023) with results showing that watching English educational videos

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on the YouTube list improved students' listening comprehension and that YouTube
helped students' understanding of English listening. According to the data, the
majority of students. majority of students believe that YouTube helps them improve
their listening skills. Individuals may become more motivated to learn English as a
result of this app because of the ease with which they can use YouTube to learn
and listen to English.

This research was made by semester 1 students of the English language

education program, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training, North Sumatra State
Islamic University. The author focuses on students' educational progress in the field
of English language skills. The author also distributed questionnaires to students to
study the impact of YouTube on the development of their listening skills. This
research population was created for students and vocational high school students
because YouTube can develop hearing to pronounce good words and sentences.

From some of the literature above, the researcher concluded that using
YouTube can improve students' listening achievements in class. This encourages
researchers to research by listening to and using YouTube videos. Researchers hope
that this technique can inspire readers to use the media. This research can be
useful for universities and students by using multimedia applications, especially
YouTube, which can be used as learning for lecturers or students.

METHOD

This research is a qualitative descriptive research with a special learning

research strategy. This research was conducted at the Medan State Islamic
University at the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training. This research was
conducted for approximately 1 month starting from November to December 2023.
The data source in this research aims to show the power of YouTube in improving
listening skills. The researcher used the sophisticated internet to obtain secondary
data in this research, including searching for journal articles on websites and the
researcher also obtained this secondary data by learning directly from the lecturer
in charge of this journal, as well as through data collection at the North Sumatra
State Islamic University. The research procedure carried out consisted of several
stages, including the first, data collection using qualitative research, which was
carried out using the case study method. By distributing questionnaires to 10
students at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Faculty of Tarbiyah and
Teacher Training. Data collection was carried out with several questions, some of
which are as follows:

1) Does YouTube help you improve your English listening skills?

2) How can YouTube help improve your listening skills?

3) How did you learn to use YouTube?

4) What kind of content do you frequently access to help your listening skills on
YouTube?

5) What are often the obstacles in using YouTube to improve your listening skills?

Secondly, the data obtained is collected and then selected and sorted for
selection, third, the selected data is then analyzed to be included in this journal,
fourth, preparation of research reports, data analysis and formulation and also
making conclusions from the data which is obtained. For more details on the
research stages, see the following research procedure chart:

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Data Collection

Data selection

Data Analysis

Preparation of
research reports

Figure 1 Research procedure

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

RESULT

In this study, the authors will discuss the results of the questionnaire that has been
written in the method section. From this data, we obtained the results of research
questions describing North Sumatra State Islamic University students using a
questionnaire made in Google form, "The Power of YouTube to Improve Listening Skills". In
this result, the average student of North Sumatra State Islamic University answered the
question of the importance of learning listening skills using YouTube. And learning using
YouTube can help listening skills get better, but the obstacle to learning by using YouTube
according to North Sumatra State Islamic University students is advertising. Each of them
answered that it was not a big problem to learn to listen using YouTube.

A. Utilization Of YouTube Content To Learn Listening Skills

These results reveal the habits of first-semester students in using YouTube.
How they use YouTube to improve their listening skills and what kind of
content they often access to help improve their listening skills. The results
show that 10 out of 10 students who are active YouTube users stated that
they agreed that YouTube helps them improve their listening skills. Based on
the response obtained from the first respondent, it shows that he uses
YouTube to read and listen to songs with lyrics and translations. It turns out
that this is not only done by one respondent but 9 other respondents. This
means that 10 out of 10 students have the habit of accessing songs via
YouTube to help them improve their listening skills. However, not only to
access songs, other respondents have the habit of learning to use YouTube
by watching podcast videos, news, short stories, motivational videos,
educational content, and reality shows. Tips for utilizing YouTube to improve
listening skills.
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B.Tips for utilizing YouTube to improve listening skills

The statements given to respondents vary. Among others:

a) Choose videos that can train listening skills, namely videos in English or
subtitled videos.

b) Watching movies that use English

c) listening and then noting new vocabulary and important points, remembering
and then applying them in everyday life

d) And learning to listen using our favorite English songs because it makes us less
bored in learning and easier to understand.

e) Using YouTube with special English education channels

The statement about the tips to improve listening skills displays an effective
way according to the students. and also that YouTube can act as an effective
learning media, as the experience of these students in using YouTube to improve
listening skills.

DISCUSSION
The results found in this study can be summarized. Learner familiarity and
attitudes of North Sumatra State Islamic University students towards the use of
YouTube videos in the area of listening skills.

First of all, our research findings show that English language learners are
familiar with English listening skills courses where the skills can be tested from
various social media including YouTube. Ghasemi, Hashemi, and Bardine (2011)
believe that the utilization of the YouTube platform in language learning may
reduce stress because the learners will see learning a new language as a
pleasurable and educational activity. its use infiltrates every aspect of listening
skills learning. Most students can access YouTube all the time from various
environments and use it for educational purposes. In addition, English language
learners seem to be familiar with YouTube as a concept and as a popular site that
can provide all kinds of educational videos they need, such as listening to music,
podcasts, foreign movies, etc. This can be used by them to study and learn. They
can use this to learn and also test what percentage of their ability without subtitles.
Using video as an audio-video medium of learning may improve English language
students' skills, particularly their listening skills (Ayu, 2016). Most of the students
of North Sumatra State Islamic University are regular visitors to the YouTube
website and they access it as one of the most frequently visited websites to use for
educational purposes. In addition, almost all students stated that they would be
highly motivated if videos were used in an educational setting, they would interact
and participate more in the sessions. They also considered that YouTube videos
could be a reason to improve listening skills. Regarding the positive impact of using
YouTube videos on listening skills, most of the participants were positive about this
assumption and agreed on their usefulness in learning.

Most of the students seemed curious and positive about the idea of
considering videos as a good resource for practicing their listening skills and they
have shown their interest in experiencing the use of videos as teaching materials.
YouTube videos have many advantages in the field of teaching, one of which may be
their ability to create a communicative atmosphere. Another advantage is the

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interest of North Sumatra State Islamic University Students in the Use of YouTube
Videos to Improve Listening performance.

This research is also supported by previous research conducted by (Lidia and

Septi 2022) which shows that using videos from the TED YouTube channel can
improve students' English skills. Some students can enhance their vocabulary
knowledge and identify topics in the videos they watch. In addition, using videos
from the TED YouTube channel can also motivate students to practice their English
listening skills. students also consider watching videos from the TED YouTube
channel as a fun way to practice English listening. It can be said as a positive thing
because students can practice English listening without feeling forced, and they can
enjoy it.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results that researchers have carried out, and based on the
data that has been presented. It turns out that using the YouTube application can
have a good influence and can help improve English language skills. And the use of
YouTube will be maximized to help improve hearing, with the presence of
seriousness, as well as the addition of other methods such as applying new
vocabulary in daily life, writing down every difficult word and then remembering it,
and following every pronunciation so that you get used to using it.

Students at the North Sumatra State Islamic University believe that using
YouTube is important for improving students' listening skills. Using YouTube can
also make it easier for lecturers to teach. Lecturers do not need to be loud to
conducive sound in class when explaining lessons, crowded classrooms make it
difficult for students to hear the lecturer or each other. and it is these obstacles
that make students lack the motivation to be good listeners.

This investigation took place at the North Sumatra State Islamic University
with students. The population was first-year students majoring in English who were
randomly selected without considering age, gender, or social status. A
questionnaire was given to them to find out their attitude towards applying
techniques such as YouTube sites to improve their listening comprehension. The
findings of the investigation show that English language learners are interested in
using internet tools such as YouTube in their learning process because it is a new
way that will help in the educational environment and enrich their knowledge of
English. The majority of students are interested in how YouTube can change the
way of learning and introduce it as a new method in English teaching sessions.
Through reviewing student questionnaires, this research shows that YouTube can
be used as a new and authentic source to provide knowledge that students can rely
on to obtain new information other than teachers or lecturers. YouTube videos can
be a very useful way to practice students' listening skills and provide them with a
new and interesting method of learning English.

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