Investigating The Impacts Of English Podcasts On Students' Listening Skills

English podcasts are digital audio media that provide authentic exposure to the English language and can be used to support the development of listening skills. This study aimed to explore students’ perceptions of the use of English podcasts, the benefits they experienced, and their expectations regarding the use of podcasts in listening learning. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed to obtain an in-depth understanding of students’ experiences. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten students from the English Education Department of UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh who had experience using podcasts in listening activities. The findings indicate that students generally have positive perceptions of English podcasts. They view podcasts as interesting and enjoyable learning media that help them practice listening more effectively. Several benefits were identified, including improved understanding of English pronunciation, better listening comprehension, increased vocabulary knowledge, and higher motivation to learn English independently. In addition, podcasts help students become more familiar with various English accents commonly used in international communication. The students also expressed expectations that podcasts would be used more frequently in listening classes, with materials adjusted to their proficiency levels and learning needs. They suggested that lecturers provide clearer instructions and guidance on how to use podcasts effectively for learning purposes. Based on these findings, English podcasts can be considered a valuable learning tool with strong potential to enhance students’ listening skills. Therefore, lecturers and educational institutions are encouraged to integrate podcasts more systematically into listening instruction as part of effective teaching strategies.