Vocabulary Acquisition through Digital English Songs: Insights From EFL Students in Indonesia

Although the use of digital English songs in EFL classes has been investigated by many scholars, limited attention has been paid to the students’ perceptions of their role in vocabulary acquisition. This study aims to describe students’ perceptions of using digital English songs to support vocabulary acquisition. This qualitative case study involved thirty-eight university students majoring in the English program at a private university in Indonesia. The research instruments were closed-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that students perceived positive attitudes toward vocabulary acquisition through digital English song practices. The students’ attitudes covered learning acceptance, perceived effectiveness, learning enjoyment, learning appreciation, and learning satisfaction. It was also found that music videos with audio-visual components enhance material comprehension, memory enhancement, learning effectiveness, and learning accessibility. It can be concluded that vocabulary acquisition classes might use digital English songs as a supplementary tool. The study suggests that selection of English songs is based on students’ language proficiency and educational objectives to maximize their pedagogical value.