Technology-Enhanced Audiobooks as Pedagogical Tools for Language Acquisition among South Indian Engineering Students

Abstract

The proliferation of audio-based digital learning platforms has fundamentally altered pedagogical paradigms in higher education, particularly in English Language Teaching (ELT) within technical institutions. This study investigates the efficacy of technology-enhanced audiobooks, specifically through Amazon Audible platform, as a pedagogical instrument for fostering language acquisition competencies among undergraduate engineering students in South India. Grounded in cognitive load theory, dual-coding theory, and communicative language teaching (CLT) frameworks, the research examines how auditory learning modalities influence vocabulary acquisition, listening comprehension, pronunciation accuracy, and overall communicative proficiency. Employing a descriptive survey design with stratified proportionate sampling, the study administered a validated ten-item Likert-scale instrument to 181 engineering students (91 male, 90 female) drawn from three disciplines: Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (n = 62), Computer Science and Engineering (n = 63), and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (n = 56). Data were analysed using IBM SPSS v20.0 through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Multiple Regression, and Chi-Square tests. PCA yielded four interpretable factors: Immersive Skill Development, Communicative Fluency, Knowledge Transmission, and Inclusive Learning. Multiple regression analysis identified development of four language skills (Beta = 0.381, p < 0.001) and catering to all learner levels (Beta = 0.223, p = 0.007) as statistically significant predictors of overall improvement in communication and knowledge. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant association between academic department affiliation and perceived improvement (p = 0.017). The findings affirm that audiobooks constitute a viable, scalable, and accessible supplementary pedagogical tool within the ELT classroom for engineering education.