PODCASTS AND TRADITIONAL AUDIO TEXTBOOKS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVENESS

This article provides a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of podcasts and traditional audio textbooks in developing English listening comprehension skills among uppergrade students. The study involved 10thgrade students (n=60) divided into two groups for 8 weeks: the experimental group used podcasts, while the control group used traditional audio textbooks. Results showed that the podcast group improved listening comprehension scores by 32%, while the traditional group improved by 14%. The main advantages of podcasts are authenticity, topic variety, flexibility, and high motivation. Traditional audio textbooks are distinguished by systematic structure and suitability for beginnerlevel learners. Practical recommendations for integrating podcasts with traditional materials are provided.