Level Up Your Listening Skills: Senior High School Students’ Perceptions of Their Busuu Learning Experience

Shofiatus Zahro; Rusfandi Rusfandi; Andy Andy

doi:10.30998/2s4bet67

Authors

Shofiatus Zahro Author
Rusfandi Rusfandi Universitas PGRI Kanjuruhan Malang Author
Andy Andy Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30998/2s4bet67

Keywords:

Busuu application, Student perception, Listening skills, Web-based application media

Abstract

Effective teaching media play an important role in the success of teaching English as a foreign language. A web-based application like Busuu can serve as an engaging tool for teachers to enhance students' language learning experiences. By employing a qualitative descriptive method, this study aims to identify students' perceptions of the Busuu application in developing their English listening skills and to examine the benefits and challenges they encounter while using it. The study involved classroom instruction with the Busuu application, questionnaires distributed to 35 participants, and interviews with six randomly selected participants. Results show that students responded positively to Busuu, noting improvements in their English listening skills through interactive practice, exposure to English speakers (native and non-native), and a broad vocabulary range. They described Busuu as an effective, user-friendly, enjoyable, and engaging learning tool. However, students faced challenges including limitations on premium features, internet connectivity issues, audio quality of materials, and difficulties understanding various English accents. Schools and educators should provide alternative offline resources, ensure reliable infrastructure, and advocate for support to access premium features. Additionally, scaffolding strategies like pre-listening activities and accent training can help students overcome difficulties with unfamiliar accents and unclear audio. Overall, while Busuu offers significant advantages for language learning, its instructional use should be carefully planned to address both educational opportunities and access-related limitations. This study contributes to EFL research by offering insights into students' perceptions of the Busuu application for listening practice. It highlights the pedagogical benefits and practical challenges of its use and provides implications for integrating web-based language applications into classroom practice, particularly concerning accessibility and technological limitations.

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