Podcasts? Why Not! – Perceptions of German Language Teachers

Abstract

Technology and the internet affect the teaching of second/foreign language (L2). Podcasts have emerged as prominent tools for L2 extensive listening exercises. Data from several studies suggest that podcasts can be used in L2 learning to help learners improve their listening and speaking skills and promote intercultural comprehension ([1]; [2]). In addition, several attempts have been made to examine the perception and attitudes of L2 learners toward the use of podcasts. The results show that L2 learners perceive podcasts as a useful tool. They are very interested and motivated to learn using podcasts [3]; [4]. Most studies have concentrated on the perceptions and attitudes of L2 learners toward the use of podcasts, and only a few have investigated this topic from L2 teachers’ perspectives. This paper provides an overview of L2 teachers’ perceptions and attitudes toward the use of podcasts in teaching German as a foreign language. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The results revealed that more than half of the participants (77.8% (N=27)) knew about podcasts, while almost two-thirds of the participants (63% (N=27)) reported that they have never used podcasts when teaching the German language. Majority of the participants agreed that podcasts can be used in German language teaching, especially to improve listening skills. Podcasts make foreign language teaching and learning more interesting. However, there are also some drawbacks such as difficulty in finding suitable podcasts that can complement specific levels of teaching materials.