Narrative Inquiry: Tertiary Students' Experiences of Using Podcast to Learn Speaking Skills Outside the Class

Abstract

This research explores the experiences of digital natives or students in using podcasts to learn speaking skills independently. Using the narrative inquiry method, this study aims to understand how     students recount their stories of using podcasts to improve their speaking skills. The study used a qualitative approach, which involved semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to obtain and analyze students' narratives. The findings of the study revealed that educational background, individual and public facilities, and learning methods affect the results, especially in Speaking courses. The participants shared that they were more comfortable and helped by this method of learning independently outside the classroom. The research also highlighted challenges, such as the lack of internet access in public places, distraction and decreased motivation to learn due to being bored with the Podcast content available. Thus, all of these narratives provide information regarding the many factors that influence a person's process in developing a language skill, especially in this study the skill of speaking. These findings also contribute to a deeper understanding of how digital natives or in this context EFL (English for Foreign Language) students use technology for independent language learning in addition to the formal classroom learning of a language according to what the lecturer taught.Keywords: Podcast; Independently; Narrative Inquiry; Technology.