The Use of Youtube as a Learning Media to Enhance EFL Students’ Speaking Skills: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Speaking is an essential skill in English language learning; however, many EFL students still experience difficulties due to limited vocabulary, poor pronunciation, and lack of confidence. Although YouTube has been widely used in language learning, evidence regarding its benefits and challenges remains scattered across individual studies. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review the use of YouTube as a learning medium for enhancing EFL students’ speaking skills. Six empirical studies published between 2019 and 2024 were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings indicate that YouTube contributes to the improvement of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and overall speaking performance. In addition, YouTube enhances learners’ motivation, confidence, engagement, and autonomy by providing authentic language input and flexible learning opportunities. However, challenges such as limited interaction, passive learning tendencies, and technological constraints were also identified. This review contributes to the literature by synthesizing recurring patterns, benefits, and challenges of YouTube-based learning across different EFL contexts. The findings provide practical implications for EFL instructors and offer directions for future research on effective YouTube integration in speaking instruction.