EFL STUDENTS' PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE USE OF ENGLISH SUBTITLED YOUTUBE VIDEOS TO ENHANCE THEIR LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of English Language Education students at Semarang State University (UNNES) regarding the use of YouTube videos with English subtitles as a medium to improve their listening comprehension. Using a quantitative descriptive survey method, the study involved 61 students in their second, fourth, and sixth semesters. Data were collected through a questionnaire and open-ended questions that assessed three aspects of perception: cognitive, affective, and conative. The results showed that students positively perceived using YouTube videos with English subtitles. From the mental aspect, they believed that subtitles effectively helped students understand comprehension, context, and sentence patterns. From the affective aspect, students felt more motivated, confident, and comfortable learning using this media. Finally, from the conative aspect, these positive perceptions encouraged active learning behaviors, such as looking up the meaning of new words, replaying videos for related utterances, and trying to use learned phrases in everyday conversations. This study concludes that YouTube videos with English subtitles are a preferred and effective tool for students, improving listening skills and encouraging motivation and productive study habits.