BBC Learning English app as a Didactic Resource to improve the English Listening Skills

Resumen

The present research considers the BBC Learning English mobile application as a didactic resource in English language teaching to improve students' English listening skills, such as listening for gist, detail, mood, and attitude. The research consists of a quantitative-qualitative approach, with a descriptive character design of action research type, conducted under the field, non-experimental, cross-sectional design. The article's objective is to analyze an intervention carried out with 34 students of the secondary school level of the "Abdón Calderón" secondary school, during three sessions, in the town of Palmales, using an essentially quantitative methodology that allowed the description of the events that occurred during its conduction. In the intervention. The learners carried out listening practice using podcasts from the BBC Learning English app, obtaining excellent student learning outcomes. there has been an increase of 41.18% of students in almost all the listening skills, such as listening for specific information, detailed understanding, and mood/attitude, except for a decrease of 17.65% in listening for gist. Also, the results revealed progress in students' English language skills and boosted motivation and attraction to English. Therefore, BBC Learning English offers podcasts with authentic English conversations where they cannot develop their Listening skills, but also the rest of English skills, immersed in a highly motivated learning environment and provoking significant and lasting knowledge for students.