IMPROVING STUDENTS’ LISTENING SKILLS THROUGH ZACH SANG SHOW PODCAST

(A pre-experimental study at MTS Al-Jawami)

Abstract

Listening skills play a crucial role in language acquisition, yet many students lack an understanding of the vocabulary and grammar used in listening contexts. Therefore, researchers use podcasts to provide alternative learning and improve students’ listening skills. The research aimed to evaluate students’ listening skills before and after using the Zach Sang Show podcast and examine any significant improvements resulting from its use as a learning tool. The study employed a quantitative approach with a pre-experimental design, collecting data from a single group using pre-tests and post-tests. Multiple- choice and true-false questions were used to assess students’ listening skills. The data was collected using a convenience sampling technique, with 18 junior high school students in the eighth grade as the sample. Meanwhile, the statistical data computation revealed a significant increase in the mean score. The pre-test results revealed a highest score of 85 and a lowest score of 35, with a mean score of 55.56, indicating that students faced difficulties and challenges in listening. In contrast, the post-test results showed a highest score of 95 and a lowest score of 65, with a mean score of 79.17, demonstrating a significant improvement in listening skills after using the Zach Sang Show podcast. As a result, the null hypothesis was rejected, and the alternative hypothesis was accepted. Furthermore, the medium-range N-Gain mean score of 0.54 supported this finding, indicating that the research media effectively improved students’ listening abilities. In conclusion, the Zach Sang Show Podcast proved to be a reliable instructional tool for improving listening skills.