THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING
Keywords:
Social Media, English Language Learning, Vocabulary Development, Listening Skills, Informal Language, Learning Platforms, Language Acquisition, Authentic Content, Education Technology, Distractions in Learning.Abstract
Annotation
This thesis explores the impact of social media on English language learning, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter in language acquisition. Through a mixed-methods approach that includes surveys and interviews with English language learners, the study examines the extent to which social media helps in vocabulary development, listening comprehension, and speaking practice. While social media offers authentic, real-world language exposure and promotes informal, real-time interaction with native speakers, the research also identifies potential drawbacks, such as the prevalence of informal language, distractions, and the challenges in transferring informal learning to more formal language contexts. The findings suggest that while social media can be an effective tool for improving language skills, its use must be balanced with more traditional, structured language learning methods to ensure comprehensive language proficiency. The study concludes with recommendations for educators on how to guide learners in using social media effectively for language development.
