Effect of voice messages and short videos through WhatsApp application to enhance the communicative skills of EFL B1 learners between the age of 18 to 25 in an Ecuadorian University

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the use of voice messages and short videos through WhatsApp application to enhance the communicative skills of EFL B1 learners between the age of 18 to 25 in an Ecuadorian University. The study reveals the impact of the uses WhatsApp application for EFL learners. It shows that short videos improve the uses of grammar and pronunciation more than voice messages which in turn enhance learners´ speaking skills in L2. Their improvement in communicative skills were noted due to the use of WhatsApp application. Participants used voice messages and short videos through WhatsApp application in the classroom according to the activities in teachers´ lesson plans. Surveys, interviews, and observation were used to collect qualitative data from the participants, and descriptive statistics and cross tabulation were applied to analyze data. The analysis of data showed that the use of short videos is significant more effective than the voice messages to enhance the communicative skills of participants.