ESL TERTIARY LEARNERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF TED TALK AS A LANGUAGE LEARNING TOOL

Abstract

The rapid growth of technology has revolutionized language learning and teaching, particularly in English language education. Among modern tools, TED talk has emerged as a valuable tool for improving various language skills. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of undergraduate learners regarding the use of TED talks as a language learning tool, focusing on the impact of three key variables: language knowledge, grammar knowledge, and vocabulary knowledge. Using a quantitative approach, the data were collected through a survey from a hundred students (3rd and 4th year) of Sindh University chosen through random sampling technique. The analysis, conducted using SPSS version 27, reveals that learners perceive TED talk as an engaging and effective tool for enhancing language skills, particularly in enhancing learners' grammar comprehension, sentence comprehension, improving understanding of the cultural context of the language, making them feel more fluent and confident in their use of the language, familiarizing them with various accents and dialects, enhancing their ability to identify and correct common grammatical mistakes and errors, learning new words, phrases, and technical terms. The study concluded that incorporating TED talks into language learning curricula can significantly benefit ESL learners by providing diverse and context-rich content.