Digital Tools to Faciliate’ English Listening Skills: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Improving listening proficiency remains a critical yet challenging aspect of language learning, highlighting the need to evaluate multimedia instructional tools. This Systematic Literature Review examines the effectiveness of YouTube and Powtoon in facilitating students’ English listening skills in EFL contexts. Using the PRISMA framework, 60 studies published between 2019 and 2025 were identified, and 12 met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that both platforms enhance learners’ motivation, engagement, and listening achievement. YouTube provides authentic input, varied accents, and supportive features such as subtitles and adjustable playback speed. Powtoon improves comprehension through animated and visually structured content that scaffolds understanding. However, limitations include restricted premium features in Powtoon and potential distractions from YouTube. Further research is recommended to investigate classroom implementation and compare platform effectiveness.