Students' perception on using podcast in learning Mandarin

Abstract

The application of podcast in foreign language learning is still in the early stages and lack empirical exploration to support its use. Learners' acceptance of podcast as a learning tool remains unclear. In this study, an attempt was made to gauge the perception of students towards (a) the podcast content and design, and (b) the benefits of using podcast in language learning. We collected data from 23 indigenous (Malay) undergraduates who were learning Mandarin as a foreign language in a public university in Malaysia. The results of this study indicate that the learners showed positive perception towards using podcast as a supplementary learning tool in learning Mandarin. Further studies on the use of podcast to provide more empirical evidence that will hopefully fill the research gaps are encouraged. This article recommends that teachers investigate their students' needs and learning motivation before they produce any podcast.