چكيده
Speaking is one of the four main skills in English language and of central importance in communication. In order to develop the speaking skill (SS), teachers should employ applicable strategies. One of the strategies is improving spontaneous speaking skill (SSS). SSS is the ability to express thoughts, ideas, opinions and emotions without preceding preparation. Much of the communication takes place at the moment. So, if the SSS improves, it enhances communication. There have been many researches in investigating different methods in promoting SS. However, this study probes the role of podcast in improving SSS among lower intermediate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners and its efficacy. On this point, 30 university students were picked out by Oxford Placement Test (OPT) to be in lower intermediate level. They were allocated to control group and experimental group via simple random sampling. Before running the Cambridge Key English Test as the pre-test, 10 Iranian EFL university students, who had the same traits as the main participants, took the pilot test to check out the feasibility of the test. Both of the groups took the pre-test. Then, the experimental group were given TED podcasts in fifteen fifteen-minute sessions which were held three times a week during five weeks totally. Because of the geographical limitation it was held online, on Gharar Website. Afterwards, both groups had the post-test to check the upshots of podcast on SSS. After all, 9 of the participants were acknowledged to have the semi-structured interview to get their points of view about this plan. In order to analyze the data a t-test and a thematic coding analysis were utilized. The quantitative data proved that the experimental group prevailed the control group. Moreover, the qualitative data revealed that participants had optimistic outlooks toward podcast in enhancing spontaneous speaking
