Abstract:
With a focus on third-year EFL students, the present study aims at investigating the effect of podcasts on enhancing students’ speaking fluency and exploring teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward their use as a teaching tool. To evaluate the reliability of the research instrument, a pilot study was carried out with 18 participants. The main research study involved a sample of 30 students and 05 teachers and used a mixed-method approach combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Students’ questionnaires and semi-structured teacher interviews were used to gather the data. While the questionnaire data was subjected to a quantitative analysis using SPSS, the interview data underwent a thematic analysis. The results revealed that regular exposure to podcasts can significantly increase students’ speaking fluency by expanding their vocabulary, improving their pronunciation and enhancing their self-confidence. Generally, podcasts significantly contribute to their increased speaking fluency. Additionally, both students and teachers showed a greater interest, engagement, and motivation toward the integration of podcasts into the learning process. These results highlighted the educational value of podcasts, indicating that they are an effective pedagogical tool for increasing students’ autonomy and speaking fluency in EFL classes
