The use of podcasts in enhancing discriminative listening skills of Turkish learners abroad: A1 level

The 8-week podcast-supported listening application aimed to enhance the discriminative listening skills of A1 level students learning Turkish abroad, focusing on their oral reading, reading comprehension, and pronunciation skills in a mutually reinforcing relationship. This study was conducted with a group of 12 participants learning Turkish in elective Turkish classes at a university in Central Europe. Implemented with a mixed-methods approach using a simultaneous triangulation design, the quantitative data sources included the Turkish Language Teaching A1 Level Discriminative Listening Skill Test and discriminative listening worksheets used in the skill development application process. Qualitative data sources for the research comprised the Turkish Language Teaching A1 Level Discriminative Listening Skill Test, Discriminative Listening Worksheets, student diaries, and researcher diaries. After the data collection phase, quantitative and qualitative data were comprehensively evaluated and reported, and the research questions were attempted to be answered through this integrated analysis. As a result of the research, it was determined that the positive and significant difference between pretest and post-test results was supported by qualitative data in student and teacher diaries. According to the findings revealed through the integrated examination of qualitative and quantitative data, it was concluded that the use of podcasts is effective in improving the discriminative listening skills of individuals learning Turkish as a foreign language at the A1 level abroad.