Students’ Experience of Using Whatsapp Voice Note in Learning Speaking

This study aimed to explore students' experiences in using WhatsApp Voice Note for learning speaking. The subjects of this study consisted of 12 English education students. A qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach was employed to achieve the research objectives. Three data collection instruments were utilized: questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire employed an 8-item questions, while the semi-structured interviews comprised 12 questions. Based on the data analysis, it was concluded that almost all eighth- semester English education students at IAIN Langsa provided positive feedback regarding WhatsApp Voice Note as an online learning medium that helped improve their English speaking skills and supported their learning process both on and off-campus. The majority of students expressed that the use of WhatsApp voice note is highly beneficial in improving their speaking abilities. They feel comfortable and confident when utilizing this feature for practice and enhancing their speaking fluency. The flexibility of this feature allows students to practice anytime and anywhere, without being bound by specific time and location. The ability to re-record their voice before sending it to their lecturers or classmates is also appreciated by them. Although some students faced network issues while using this application, the use of WhatsApp voice note is still considered a valuable experience in supporting speaking learning. Besides being used in formal learning environments, students are also actively using WhatsApp voice note to communicate and practice with their friends in the target language, which encourages motivation and self-assurance in using the language outside and inside the classroom.