A Systematic Review: Incorporating Social Media Tools Into Language Learning

This study highlights a segment of a study that explores the incorporating the social media tools into language learning. These social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram...etc. have become such an intriguing social media that there is a growing need among educationalists, learners, and administrators to explore their impact and effectiveness in the field of language learning. Objective: An updated systematic review was carried out of research studies looking at the incorporating of social media into language learning. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review on empirical research regarding the incorporating and effectiveness of social media into language learning. The studies we included met some specific criteria as well as collected from different databases. Besides that, the study used the CASP checklist and the guidelines set by PRISMA for choosing the eligible studies that related to the systematic review purpose. The data were extracted, and results were categorized into four themes then summarized using a narrative. Results: Initially, a total of 1,085 articles were identified from which 21 were included in the study. From these articles four, themes were applied as the following: the first them is the studies numbers with the publication year which showed that using social media into language learning become more popular around the years between 2014 till 2016. The second them is social media tools with language skills which showed the variety of using social media tools such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp among the language skills. The third them identified the most methods that used in different studies to be approved the use of social media into language learning. So, it was apparent that experimental study with the pre-test and post-test design was most used in the studies. The last them is the effectiveness of using social media in language learning which approved that using social media was effective in most studies for improving different language skills. Conclusion: Our review provides insights into the emerging utilization of social media in language learning. In particular, it identifies types of social media tools that used the most to improve the language skills as well as the effects of such use, which may differ between skill to skill. Accordingly, our results framework and propositions can serve to guide future research, and they also have practical implications for language learning and developing the design instruction. Key Words: Social media, Language learning, Systematic review, Language skill

Impact of WhatsApp on the Vocabulary Acquisition of Secondary School Students in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

The advent of technology has brought a change in the dynamics of second language teaching and learning. WhatsApp has been a common tool used among students for communicating and chatting with friends, peers, and relatives. Its commonality may be because of its easy installation as mobile application on mobile devices. Educators are beginning to explore its potentials toward seeing how it can help students in their learning. Since it is apparently a novel tool in the education sector, its usefulness in acquiring vocabulary by secondary school students is yet to be ascertained. Therefore, this study examined the impact of WhatsApp on vocabulary acquisition of secondary school students in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. This study was premised on the constructivist learning theory since WhatsApp provides students the opportunity to construct their vocabulary knowledge. The sample for the study comprised 250 students from five secondary schools randomly selected in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Data for the study were generated from the participants using self-made questionnaire. The questionnaire is structured into 5 points from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Mean and standard deviation were employed to analyse the data. Findings showed that more than half of the students believe WhatsApp is expedient in learning and acquiring vocabulary. It further revealed that the majority of the students perceive WhatsApp as an effective social network that enhances their vocabulary acquisition as it is easy to acquire new words and understand their meanings through WhatsApp. The study concluded that language teachers should devise means of adopting social media such as WhatsApp to teach their students since students are favourably disposed to learning through WhatsApp

Using Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) to Teach English in Indonesian Context: Opportunities and Challenges

Information Technology (IT), more particularly, mobile devices and applications are getting more and more popular in the world of education. Language learning has become one part of education that uses mobile technology. In Indonesia, Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) has been applied in a number of regions although it is also admitted that some places are not as fortunate as those which have applied it. Some have questioned the possibility of the application of MALL in their regions, but some others comment that the application of it is unavoidable. The questions raised in this research are: 1) what are the opportunities as well as the challenges of using MALL?  2) How is the possibility of applying MALL in Indonesian context? This research is descriptive qualitative. The techniques of data collection applied were library research and self-reflection. The data analysis methods were data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. To answer the questions in this research, this paper looks at a number of mobile devices and applications and reviews literature (including peer-reviewed articles) related to the opportunities as well as their challenges of incorporation into the context of English as Foreign Language (EFL) education. Their use in Indonesian context is then discussed. Finally, this paper recommends that MALL should be used in EFL education in Indonesia in order to keep up with the digital learning of this world and also suggests that further research should be conducted for each mobile device and app in all parts of Indonesia, including rural areas

THE USE OF WHATSAPP APP IN DISTANCE LANGUAGE LEARNING IN PANDEMIC COVID-19: A CASE STUDY IN NAHDLATUL ULAMA UNIVERSITY OF YOGYAKARTA

Lately, pandemic covid-19 has changed the educational field including learning methods from conventional learning to distance learning. This shift needed more adaptation for all parts like stakeholders, teachers, and also students. Evidently, various efforts have been made by teachers in simplifying teaching and learning such as applying some digital technologies like WhatsApp App, an asynchronous communication to reach the students’ presence with any spaces and time. This study aimed to describe and to evaluate the use of utilizing WhatsApp App in distance language learning for the English Education Department Students of Nahdlatul Ulama University of Yogyakarta. The research design of this study was a case study. Furthermore, this study gave the detailed information, description, and understanding deeply in relation to the use of WhatsApp App in remote teaching. Students’ perception and the factors affecting the effectiveness were investigated through a questionnaire. The results showed that WhatsApp App can support and helped the language learning to be more effective and efficient for the reason that it was accessible and low technology for distance learning. The students were more responsive and enthusiastic in joining the class. Indeed, it has given more facilities and satisfaction in practice.    

Tecnologias em aulas de escrita em inglês como segunda língua/língua estrangeira

This paper presents a systematic review on the use of technologies in English as a Second Language (ESL) and as a Foreign Language (EFL) writing classes. The pursued objectives were to: 1) review recent empirical studies for the use of technologies in ESL/EFL writing classes; and 2) synthesize and assess the impacts of digital technologies on written texts and the writing process. Hence, the findings of this review are relevant because the arrival of new technologies has changed the environment in which digital writing is practiced and there is a lack of rigorous literature reviews that allow a better comprehension of these impacts (Lira-Gonzales & Grégoire, 2022).Este artículo presenta una revisión sistemática sobre el uso de tecnologías en clases de escritura de inglés como Segunda Lengua (ISL) y Lengua Extranjera (ILE). Los objetivos perseguidos fueron: 1) revisar estudios empíricos recientes para el uso de tecnologías en las clases de escritura de ISL/ILE; y 2) sintetizar y evaluar los impactos de las tecnologías digitales en los textos escritos y en el proceso de escritura. Por lo tanto, los hallazgos de esta revisión son relevantes porque la llegada de las nuevas tecnologías ha cambiado el entorno en el que se practica la escritura digital y existe un vacío de revisiones bibliográficas rigurosas que permitan una mejor comprensión de estos impactos (Lira-Gonzales y Grégoire, 2022).Este artigo apresenta uma revisão sistemática sobre o uso de tecnologias em aulas de escrita de Inglês como Segunda Língua (ISL) e Língua Estrangeira (ILE). Os objetivos foram: 1) revisar estudos empíricos recentes para o uso de tecnologias nas aulas de redação ISL/ILE; e 2) sintetizar e avaliar os impactos das tecnologias digitais em textos escritos e no processo de escrita. Portanto, os achados desta revisão são relevantes porque a chegada de novas tecnologias mudou o ambiente em que a escrita digital é praticada e há um vácuo de rigorosas revisões bibliográficas que permitem uma melhor compreensão desses impactos (Lira-Gonzales e Grégoire, 2022)

The Effects of Technology on Learning English as a Foreign Language Among Female EFL Students at Effatt College: An Exploratory Study

Technology offers modern educational tools for learning English as a foreign language. For the current study, the effects of technology on learning English as a foreign language among female EFL students at Effatt College were investigated. To achieve this aim, questionnaires with Likert scale questions were used in the study. The questionnaire was divided into two parts. The first part began with two general questions about age and educational level. The second part included four specific questions regarding technology tools that enhance learning the English language. Thirty-Six participants were included in this study. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to obtain accurate results. The findings clearly indicate that computer software, social networking websites, online videos, audio tools (i.e., YouTube, Skype, MP3 players), and smart phone and tablet apps have a positive impact on learning English as a foreign language. Therefore, technology tools can clearly be effective in improving the students’ language and communication skills

Iranian EFL Learners' Attitudes Toward Language Learning Through Social Media During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The current research aimed at exploring Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ attitudes and perceptions toward learning a language by means of social media during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. To do so, 850 participants were selected voluntarily based on inclusion criteria from 1000 language learners enrolling in the general English courses at some specific institutions and under some tutors. To collect the intended data, a researcher-made questionnaire, devised based on the available literature to scrutinize their attitude using 5-point Likert scale items, was administered by means of social media to the participants. Out of the collected questionnaires, 850 were included for the analysis in this research. The results revealed that EFL learners consider social media as a significant element of their learning a foreign language, especially throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings of the present research can pave the way for the inclusion of social media as an indispensable instrument of nurturing collaboration and communication among learners even after the pandemic eases. Keywords: EFL learners, social media, the covid-19 pandemic, attitudes and perceptions, language learning DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/96-03 Publication date:May 31st 202

The Effect of Mall Instruction on Teens' Writing Performance

This paper considers MALL as an effective instruction method to develop teens' writing performance. The results indicated participants' development of content and ideas, organization and mechanics, vocabulary, and language use. The comparison of the experimental groups (viz. Smart teens & Amazing teens) with the control groups showed a noticeable development

MOBILE ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING (MALL):Teacher uses of smartphone applications (apps) to support undergraduate students’ English as a Foreign Language (EFL) vocabulary development

The purpose of this study is to highlight how smartphones, specifically smartphone applications, can be integrated into the vocabulary development of adult English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) or English for Academic Studies (EAS) context. In the literature on Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL), it is largely claimed that the development of language-related technology is on the increase and that the number of tech-savvy students will also grow in the future. These ubiquitous tools, which may also be defined as widely-used, could potentially improve teaching and learning outcomes in vocabulary development, especially through applications installed on smartphones. However, schools and other higher education institutes have not yet fully integrated these devices into their courses and have mostly perceived them as distractors. Moreover, there is limited research on how smartphones could be utilised sensibly, both inside and outside the classroom. This study, therefore, aims to explore methods and approaches which could facilitate vocabulary development and pre-teach EAP words outside the classroom through smartphone applications, while saving in-class time for other activities. The focus in the present study is on vocabulary development, as it is considered to be a priority area in language learning. The majority of language teachers and applied linguistic researchers have recognised the importance of vocabulary learning and aim to promote it further. McCarthy (1990) promotes the idea further, stating that the single, biggest component of any language course through the experience of most language teachers is vocabulary. It is the knowledge of words, which expresses a wide range of meaning. The participants in the present study were required to develop their academic vocabulary, this being a common problem area for EFL learners. Academic vocabulary development is important for them, because when submitting academic assignments, learners have a pressing need to use advanced level academic vocabulary items. This study was conducted using a case-study approach focusing on 20 EFL students at a university in Britain who were attending Pre-sessional EAP classes during the period of the study. Uses of smartphone applications were developed by the teacher, who also acted as the researcher in this study. The focus has been on the students’ perceptions, opinions and overall experience of using these smartphone applications in their EAP vocabulary development, as well as how effective they were. The intention was to discover how the tools can be incorporated into the learning process. The data were collected through questionnaires, a pre-test and a post-test, interviews, diaries and the researcher’s logbook. The latter included a written report of the students’ daily activities and learning experiences, their challenges and success/lack of success in learning. The study provides a rich description and analysis of the effectiveness of smartphone applications in vocabulary development mainly through qualitative data analysis. Limited use of quantitative analysis is made when reporting through numbers and percentages as well as displaying figures. It is anticipated that the results of the study will help to determine the appropriate use of smartphone applications in the vocabulary development of adult EFL students

DEVELOPING ELT MATERIALS-ICT BASED AMID COVID-19

This study investigates the analysis of the needs of EFL students in using ICT as an ELT tool and material. This quantitative study involved 162 students drawn from twelve study programs: department of mathematics, department of Indonesian language, department of agriculture, department of agrotechnology, department of agribusiness, department of informatics engineering, department of information systems, department of communication Science, Department of Communication Science, department of State administration, department of health and society, department of Islamic economics at Universitas Al Asyariah Mandar. In this study, we will see how the development of modern information and communication technology (ICT) as tools and materials used in the classroom to help students learn English 1. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine what the needs and wants are and their shortcomings. Data has been collected and analyzed using a hybrid approach with questionnaires and interviews. This study found that most of the participants found it useful to integrate social media such as Youtube based as material, WhatsApp to communicate, and they recommended maximizing the use of Google technology (e-dictionary), Duolingo application, Rosetta Stone, Daily Learn English, and ELT in a virtual classroom in the middle COVID-19. Students were selected using a selective random sampling technique. The findings reveal that the genre approach media and technology is used to developing ICT as an English foreign language resource in higher education teaching are recommended by the findings of this study.