An overview of the utilization of the spotify application in teaching listening
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22437/proca.v1i3.50480Keywords:
English Learning, Listening, Literature Review, Podcast, Song, Spotify, SystematicsAbstract
In the digital age, English listening skills have become essential for language learners, yet many students still struggle with comprehension and motivation. Spotify, a globally popular audio streaming platform, offers a variety of features that may support listening development in educational contexts. This study aims to provide an overview of how the Spotify application has been utilized in the teaching of English listening. It specifically examines how previous undergraduate studies have integrated Spotify through both songs and podcasts to support students’ listening skills in classroom settings. Using a qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, this study analyzed 20 undergraduate theses from Indonesian universities published between 2021 and 2025. The data were collected using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by content analysis to identify patterns of Spotify usage and its reported effects. The results reveal that Spotify has been used to support various aspects of listening instruction, including vocabulary enrichment, pronunciation improvement, listening comprehension, and student motivation. Features such as real-time lyrics, replay controls, and personalized playlists were highlighted as especially helpful. Overall, Spotify’s diverse features offer promising potential in enhancing English listening instruction. As both a media tool and motivational aid, Spotify can be a valuable addition to modern language classrooms, particularly when combined with appropriate instructional design
Downloads
References
Agustina, E., Kuspiyah, H. R., & Triani, A. (2023). The use of Spotify application to teach listening skill. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Sastra Inggris, 3(3), 87–96.
Al-Habsyi, M. N., Syahid, A., Zikri, P. A., & Ramdanniah, H. (2024). The relationship between listening to Spotify podcasts and improving English listening skills among EFL students. Journal of English Studies, 4(1), 1061–1071.
Alfarisi, A., Aulia, S., Sarair, R., & Farsia, L. (2024). Leveraging Spotify podcasts to boost listening skills. International Conference on English Language Teaching, 1(1), 56–70.
Awindya, A., Araffiq, A., Aziz, A. D., & Sahrui, S. (2024). Students’ perception towards the use of Spotify application as a medium of listening practice: A case study in 2nd semester English education of the University Mataram. Journal of English Education Forum (JEEF), 4(4), 234–239. https://doi.org/10.29303/jeef.v4i4.720
Ayuni, A., & Loebis, R. (2020). Lagu, kaum muda dan budaya demokrasi. Pustaka: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Budaya, 18(2), 81–92. https://doi.org/10.24843/pjiib.2018.v18.i02.p02
Bona, C. (2018). The use of Spotify to increase English listening skills. Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 10) and the Second English Language Teaching and Technology (ELT-Tech 2), 22–23. http://repository.ubaya.ac.id/id/eprint/31910
Cahya, A. D., Uzer, Y., & Noviati. (2024). Spotify application as a medium to improve students’ listening ability. Esteem Journal of English Education Study Programme, 7(2), 789–797. https://doi.org/10.31851/esteem.v7i2.15919
Farid, A. (2023). The implementation of English songs using Spotify application to students’ listening comprehension. Papanda Journal of English Education, 2(1), 27–37. https://ejournal.papanda.org/index.php/pjee/article/view/480
Febrianti, R., Talib, A., & Ariyani, A. (2023). The use of podcast in improving listening skill of EFL students at SMA Negeri 12 Makassar. Performance: Journal of English Education and Literature, 2(3), 401–412. https://doi.org/10.26858/performance.v2i3.51444
Hamdani, H., Fikni, Z., & Handini, B. S. P. (2022). The effect of listening comprehension through podcast among Indonesian pre-intermediate EFL learners. ELT in Focus, 5(1), 1–8.
Hamsia, W., & Ro’ifah, R. (2023). Using interactive media of Spotify in listening comprehension for students in intensive English course of Language Center Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya. Journal of English Education, Linguistics, and Literature (JEELL), 9(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.32682/jeell.v9i2.2865
Iddiyaturrohmah, M., Fikni, Z., Maysuroh, S., & Husnu, M. (2024). The effect of using Spotify podcasts in improving students’ listening ability at SMA Yadinu Masbagik. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 4(4), 15475–15483.
Ilmi, S. N., & Nurjati, N. (2023). The effect of using Spotify application on EFL listening achievement of senior high school students. Scripta (English Department Journal), 10(1), 166–174. https://doi.org/10.37729/scripta.v10i1.3164
Lisda, S., Anwar, M., & Universitas, A. B. (2024). The effect of using Spotify application towards students’ listening skill: An experimental study at SMAN 1 Cihara Lebak. Jurnal Multidisiplin Ilmu Bahasa, 4(3), 1–10.
Marsela, Y., Aini, N., Yuliastuti, P., Khardani, R. F., Hidayat, N., & Fatwa, Y. (2024). Tertiary students’ perspectives on the use of English songs and podcasts on Spotify in improving listening skills. Jurnal Onoma: Pendidikan, Bahasa, dan Sastra, 10(1), 1142–1152. https://doi.org/10.30605/onoma.v10i1.3283
Masbirorotni, Failasofah, & Izzah, N. (2023). Using “Listening Time Podcast” on Spotify to improve students’ listening comprehension. Eduvelop: Journal of English Education and Development, 7(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.31605/eduvelop.v7i1.2894
Meisa, R. (2023). Integrating Spotify in teaching English listening skills: Exploring the benefits and challenges. Journal of English as a Foreign Language Education, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.47270/jefle.v4i2.74900
Mohd Nawi, N. S., & Muhmad Nor, N. A. A. (2023). The challenges in the teaching of English literature. Journey: Journal of English Language and Pedagogy, 6(1), 130–147. https://doi.org/10.33503/journey.v6i1.2640
Nathania, S. (2024). ICT tools for listening and speaking skills in English teaching and learning: Advantages and challenges in the digital globalization era. Journal of Environment and Management, 5(1), 1–10. https://e-journal.upr.ac.id/index.php/jem
Ni’mah, R., & Putri, A. R. (2024). The effectiveness of using English songs on Spotify for enhancing listening skill in eighth-grade students at MTs N 1 Jepara. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 7(4), 776–787.
Newton, J. M., & Nation, I. S. P. (2020). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge.
Putri, A., & Nor, H. (2025). The role of Spotify in developing metacognitive strategies of listening in Generation Z. Journal of English Education Studies, 7(1), 85–92.
Rahmawati, S. (2022). Benefiting EFL students in listening comprehension. Journal of English Studies, 6(1), 72–85.
Ramadhan, A. A. (2024). English podcast as a learning media for students’ listening skill in SMPN 3 Tangerang Selatan (Bachelor’s thesis). FITK UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
Rezi, F. A., Destia, D., Wahyudi, R., Elentiranda, C., & Fikri, M. A. (2025). The utilization of viral English songs through Spotify to improve students’ listening skills: Students’ experience. Jurnal Review Pendidikan dan Pengajaran, 8(1), 2669–2678. https://doi.org/10.31004/jrpp.v8i1.42403
Rukthong, A., & Brunfaut, T. (2020). Is anybody listening? The nature of second-language listening in integrated listening-to-summarize tasks. Language Testing, 37(1), 31-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532219871470
Salainti, E., & Pratiwi, W. R. (2021). The role of digital technology in supporting students’ listening skills through digital music platforms and podcasts: A literature review. Klasikal: Journal of Education, Language Teaching and Science, 3(3), 72–79. https://doi.org/10.52208/klasikal.v3i3.109
Salsabila, W., Irianti, L., & Thoyyibah, L. (2021). The effectiveness of Georgiana’s podcast on Spotify to improve students’ listening skills. Teaching & Learning English in Multicultural Contexts, 5(2), 156–163. http://jurnal.unsil.ac.id/index.php/tlemc/index
Saraswaty, D. R., Adawiyah, D., Sulistiyo, U., & Haryanto, E. (2024). The impact of multimedia learning models on listening comprehension: A systematic review of self-efficacy and technology integration. PPSDP International Journal of Education, 3(2), 588–608. https://doi.org/10.59175/pijed.v3i2.341
Sayidaturrahmah, S. S., Fatmawati, W. O., & Husain, D. L. (2024). The effect of using podcasts to improve listening comprehension in senior high school students. Journal of Educational Technology Studies and Applied Research, 1(2), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.70125/jetsar.v1i2y2024a19
Suwarni, A., Sartika, D., & Ika, A. (2023). Enhancing students’ listening skill by Spotify application. ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 6(3), 640–645. https://doi.org/10.34050/elsjish.v6i3.31006
Utari, S. D. (2023). The use of Spotify on students’ ability in listening at vocational school. Journal of English Language Education, 5(1), 45–52.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Akmal, Elvina Arapah, Eka Puteri Elyani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Published with license by LPPM Universitas Jambi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0 International). This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator.
