Pedagogical Aspects of Podcasts in EFL Classrooms: A Qualitative Analysis of Teachers' Perceptions and Attitudes

The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools within educational environments has gained significant attention in recent decades. In particular, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms have recognized the importance of leveraging digital learning and teaching tools for their potential to enhance interactivity and learning outcomes. Among these tools, podcasts have proven highly effective in facilitating advanced language acquisition by improving listening comprehension and speaking skills and promoting autonomous learning. However, despite these advantages, the integration of podcasts into formal educational settings is notably inconsistent, specifically in developing regions like North Macedonia. Even though the country’s National ICT Strategy aims at improving digital skills and digitizing the infrastructure, effective integration of digital learning tools like podcasts is crucial to realizing these objectives. This paper critically examines the role of podcasts in formal settings of EFL instruction by exploring the perceptions and attitudes of teachers towards their effectiveness. Accordingly, a qualitative approach is employed, combining credible secondary research with data from publicly available podcasts/interviews with experts. Using thematic analysis, the study identifies that podcasts enable teachers to provide authentic language exposure and foster autonomous learning, leading to improved language learning outcomes as compared to traditional methods. While their inconsistent adoption is largely due to technological constraints, insufficient teachers’ training and inadequate curricular support, this study highlights that teachers view podcasts as highly adaptable and easy to integrate, even in resource-constrained settings, making them an effective tool for EFL context. Consequently, this research contributes to the existing literature on digital pedagogy, offering specific recommendations for integrating podcast-based learning into North Macedonia’s educational system, and thus, supporting the successful implementation of its National ICT Strategy.