Embedding Global Citizenship Elements while Using YouTube to Enhance Malaysian University Students’ Listening Skills

Embedding Global Citizenship Education (GCED) into language learning offers opportunities to enhance students’ English proficiency while developing their awareness of global issues. This study investigated Malaysian university students’ perceptions of using GCED-related YouTube videos to improve their English listening skills and global awareness. A quantitative research design was employed using a 15-item structured online questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The participants comprised 174 undergraduate students enrolled in the compulsory English for Communicative Competence II course at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan Branch, Kuala Pilah Campus. The sample included 143 female and 31 male students aged between 18 and 23 years. Before completing the questionnaire, the students were introduced to GCED through classroom instruction and discussion. They subsequently viewed two GCED-related YouTube videos selected by the researchers according to the study objectives. The collected data were analysed using SPSS Version 22 through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analyses. The findings revealed that students had moderately positive perceptions of the role of GCED-related YouTube videos in improving their English listening skills (M = 3.15, Md = 2.89) and global awareness (M = 3.02, Md = 2.67). A moderately strong positive relationship was identified between students’ perceptions and global awareness (r = .644, p < .001). Furthermore, students’ perceptions significantly predicted their global awareness, accounting for approximately 41.2% of the variance (adjusted R² = .412). These findings demonstrate the potential of GCED-related YouTube content to support English listening development while fostering students’ understanding of important global issues. Educators are therefore encouraged to incorporate relevant and high-quality GCED-related digital content into English language lessons to promote meaningful language learning, critical thinking, empathy, and global responsibility. Future research may examine the long-term effects of this approach and explore the use of other digital platforms in promoting GCED within Malaysian higher education.

global citizenship education, listening skill, ESL, university students, YouTube

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