ENGLISH STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF USING YOUTUBE AS AN ENGLISH LEARNING MEDIA AND THEIR STRATEGIES IN UTILIZING IT

Abstract

In today’s digital age, YouTube became one of the most popular English learning platforms among students. The utilization of YouTube enabled students to access a variety of educational content independently, which could enhance their language skills outside the formal classroom environment. This study aimed to examine English Education students' perceptions of using YouTube as a medium as an English learning media, as well as the strategies they employed in the learning process. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through questionnaires and interviews from students who actively used YouTube to learn English independently. The results indicated that 61% of respondents agreed that YouTube had assisted them in learning English independently, 32% remained neutral, and 7% disagreed. In terms of learning strategies, students utilized various types of content, such as songs, movies, podcasts, and vlogs, among others, to improve their language skills, encompassing both basic skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and language components (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation). Students also leveraged YouTube to study course materials, including syntax, morphology, academic writing, and additional subjects. Furthermore, some students consulted explanations from language experts on specific topics of interest. The selection of content types was tailored to the skills each student sought to develop. The findings demonstrated that YouTube constituted an effective tool in supporting self-taught English learning, provided that students were capable of applying learning strategies suitable for their individual needs and learning objectives.