The Effect of YouTube on Second Language Acquisition ofElementary School Students

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of YouTube as a learning medium on second language acquisition among elementary school students. The rapid growth of digital media has positioned YouTube as a prominent source of audiovisual input that may support vocabulary acquisition and speaking development. This research employed a quantitative pre-experimental design, utilizing a one-group pretest–posttest model. The participants were 27 fourth-grade students from SDN Gongseng, Jombang, selected through a total sampling method. Data were collected using vocabulary and speaking tests administered before and after the YouTube-based instruction. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired samples t-test with SPSS. The results indicate a significant improvement in students’ English abilities, particularly in vocabulary mastery and pronunciation accuracy. The findings suggest that YouTube provides meaningful and comprehensible input that supports second language acquisition when integrated into classroom instruction with appropriate guidance. This study contributes to the growing body of research on digital media-assisted language learning in primary education.