Social media in language learning: a mixed-methods investigation of students’ perceptions

Abstract

The literature on students’ perceptions towards using Social Media (SM) for language learning reports mixed findings: while some studies indicate learners’ positive perceptions of their use for academic purposes (e.g., Bani-Hani et al.), others suggest that learners’ perceptions might vary due to their proficiency in the language (e.g., Gamble & Wilkins). There is also evidence that students’ do not always wish to share their SM environments for educational purposes). This study investigates students’ attitudes towards the use of four popular SMs (WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter) in learning English as a foreign language.

Ninety-nine adult English learners at a university in Saudi Arabia, active users of SM, participated in this mixed-methods study, which consisted of individual surveys and interviews. A two-way analysis of variance revealed that there are differences between beginner and advanced students in their perceptions of the usefulness of SM applications for language learning, but not in their affective feelings towards SM use outside the classroom, nor their choice of SM application for learning. Frequency counts indicated that the groups’ choices of SM varied according to different language purposes and the skills to be learned (e.g., they preferred WhatsApp for communication with family and friends, Twitter for reading, and Snapchat for learning aural skills). Further qualitative analysis revealed that advanced learners were more reluctant to using SM for academic purposes.

Keywords:

• Social media
• learners’ perceptions
• mobile learning

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge that the data presented and analysed in this article were published as a 4-page paper in the proceedings of the 2018 EucoCALL Conference (Jyväskylä, Finland), and appeared as part of an unpublished MA thesis by the first author in 2017 (Concordia University, Canada). Overall, the present paper provides a more focused review of the topics associated with our study, has an in-depth description of its scope, goals and methodology, and provides a thorough discussion of the theoretical and practical relevance of the study and results obtained.