Podcast to promote cultural awareness in the efl classroom

Abstract

This study explores teachers’ perspectives and experiences regarding the use of podcasts to foster cultural awareness in students. A qualitative approach with a phenomenological design was employed, using open-ended interviews with five teachers from two schools in the Province of Santa Elena. The results show that podcasts are an effective pedagogical tool in the process of cultural awareness, as they expose students to authentic language, different perspectives, and situations of intercultural communication. This teaching resource, in turn, fosters reflection and promotes respect for diversity while establishing meaningful conversation when integrated with appropriate strategies, such as pre-listening, listening and post-listening. Challenges to use of podcasts in the classroom were also identified, such as time constraints, teacher methodological preparation, limited access to digital resources, and unstable internet connections, which limit their effectiveness in educational contexts. The research suggests that, despite limitations, educators emphasized that podcasts support, motivate, and enhance students’ ability to interact in real-world contexts, creating more inclusive classrooms and more active in their learning process.