Students’ Perceptions on YouTube for Learning English

Abstrak

This study aimed to examine students’ perceptions of YouTube as a medium for learning English, focusing on cognitive, affective, and conative dimensions. A mixed-method approach with a sequential explanatory design was employed. The participants consisted of 50 students from the English Education Department at Halu Oleo University, selected through purposive sampling. Quantitative data were collected by closed-ended questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent samples t-test. The results indicated that students generally held positive perceptions of YouTube (M = 3.59, SD = 0.345), suggesting its effectiveness in supporting English language learning, particularly in speaking, listening, and vocabulary development. The independent samples t-test revealed no statistically significant difference between male and female students’ perceptions (t(48) = -1.877, p = 0.067 > 0.05). Qualitative data from open-ended responses were analyzed thematically and revealed that students perceived YouTube as engaging, motivating, and flexible. However, some challenges were identified, including distractions and difficulty in selecting appropriate content. Overall, the findings suggest that YouTube serves as a valuable supplementary tool for independent English learning, provided that learners are guided in selecting relevant and high-quality materials.

Kata kunci

• Youtube
• english learning
• perceptions