The Perspectives of EFL Students at Yarmouk University towards Using YouTube in Learning and Understanding English during Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The Covid-19 epidemic has forced several nations to adjust to new conditions in a variety of fields, including education. Jordan has made the decision to go from in-person instruction to online classes utilizing a variety of programs, including WhatsApp, Teams, and Zoom. During the pandemic, students used YouTube to learn and comprehend English. This study examines how watching YouTube videos affects students' English language proficiency and contrasts it with lectures delivered by professors through Zoom and WhatsApp. Additionally, it illustrates the challenges of using YouTube videos for online learning as well as possible solutions. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers use qualitative and quantitative method to be applied on 100 fourth-year college students from the department of English language and literature, College of Education, Yarmouk University. The researchers conclude that students consider YouTube as a learning tool as they have motivation for using YouTube videos to understand academic materials to the extent that they believe that YouTube videos help them to improve their performance and language skills more than the lectures given by teachers on Zoom and WhatsApp. The researchers find three Barriers of using YouTube videos in learning and understanding English identified from the students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at Yarmouk University during Covid-19 pandemic. The three barriers are lack of interpersonal contact, technological barriers and physical barriers. The researchers also suggest approaches to overcome those obstacles. A number of recommendations were also given in this publication in light of the study's findings.