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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Educ.
Sec. Language, Culture and Diversity
Volume 9 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1451504

Enhancing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learning in Saudi Arabia: The Academic Contribution of YouTube in EFL Learning and Cultural Awareness

Provisionally accepted
  • Al-Ghad International Health Sciences Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The incorporation of technology in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom has drastically transformed conventional learning models by offering innovative ways to boost students' engagement and improve learning outcomes. This study investigates the impact of using YouTube as an educational tool to enhance EFL instruction in Saudi Arabia. A total of 200 EFL students were divided into two groups: An experimental group which used You Tube as a source of learning and another group which used normal curriculum. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from a paired-sample t-test with qualitative feedback from students. The results for paired-sample t-test computations revealed a statistically significant difference (p = 0. 003) across the proficiency level indicating improvement in students' speaking and listening skills at higher proficiency levels. Of the qualitative answers, motivational and participation enhancement were overemphasized. The research points that the integration of YouTube in EFL classrooms can lead to a remarkable increase in language learning especially in the learning area of listening and speaking abilities among the students. These results offer practical implications for educators seeking to integrate multimedia tools into their teaching strategies to promote more interactive and effective learning experiences. The adoption of technology in English as foreign language (EFL) classrooms has shifted conventional learning models significantly by presenting effective means of facilitating students' interest and better results. This study aims to discover how the YouTube platform can enhance EFL education in Saudi Arabia. For this study, 200 EFL students in two equal groups (experimental and control groups) were involved. The results for paired-sample t-test computations revealed a statistically significant difference (p = 0. 003) across the proficiency level indicating improvement in students' speaking and listening skills at higher proficiency levels. The positive results of using YouTube videos are proven to be beneficial to EFL learners when implemented in classrooms.

    Keywords: English as a Foreign Language, teaching methods, Cultural awareness, youtube, Educational Technology

    Received: 19 Jun 2024; Accepted: 24 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Yassin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Baderaddin Yassin, Al-Ghad International Health Sciences Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.