FACEBOOK: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CLASSROOM ENGLISH AND REAL WORLD READING FOR NON-NATIVE LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

Abstract

Facebook, a social networking website, is used as a global multi-purpose cyber board in a variety of fields such as education, politics, entertainment, science, and business. Utilizing this easily accessible website in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) or in the ESL (English as a Second Language) learning scenario could be crucial for the development of integrated English skills for EFL learners. From the researcher’s teaching experience, EFL classroom reading materials are limited to commercial textbooks or selected reading articles based on instructors ’ interests. In order to promote extensive reading and strengthen reading skills, EFL learners should expose themselves to authentic reading outside the classroom and be provided with alternative sources of English learning materials. Based on the popularity of Facebook, this study therefore aimed to encourage extensive reading by employing the website as a cyber forum for EFL undergraduate students, who then shared their reading topics and their reflections on applying classroom reading strategies to reading English in real world contexts with other Facebook members. This eventually led to the main research question: To what extent did EFL undergraduate students develop their extensive reading on Facebook? The study methodology was designed for qualitative, action research conducted with a group of 3