USING STORYTELLING PODCASTS TO ENHANCE LISTENING AND RETELLING SKILLS IN A2 LEARNERS

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the potential of storytelling podcasts as a pedagogical tool to improve listening comprehension and retelling skills among A2-level English language learners. Thirty students (aged 16–20) participated in a six-week intervention, during which they engaged with short storytelling podcasts, supported by vocabulary pre-teaching, staged listening, and structured retelling tasks. Pre- and post-intervention tests revealed a 25% improvement in listening comprehension scores and a 55.9% increase in retelling rubric performance. Learners also reported higher levels of motivation and engagement compared to textbook-based audio materials. The study highlights the value of podcasts as authentic yet structured resources and argues that their narrative coherence supports comprehension and oral fluency. However, challenges related to accents and cultural references were observed, suggesting the importance of scaffolding. The findings carry strong pedagogical implications and suggest future research on long-term retention and broader learner populations.