A STUDY ON SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE FOR ENHANCING ENGLISH LEARNING SKILLS OF STUDENTS AT THE HUFI FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES Author name Vũ Thị Hải Anh Student’s code 2029192024 Email vuhaianh1803gmail com Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore how social media may effect English learning capabilities and whether it could help HUFI students enhance their English language skills The survey was used since the goal of this study.
A STUDY ON SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE FOR ENHANCING ENGLISH LEARNING SKILLS OF STUDENTS AT THE HUFI FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES Author name: Vũ Thị Hải Anh Student’s code: 2029192024 Email: vuhaianh1803@gmail.com Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore how social media may effect English learning capabilities and whether it could help HUFI students enhance their English language skills The survey was used since the goal of this study was to gain detail information such as interviews and questionnaires about how students at the HUFI Faculty of Foreign Languages used social media to improve their English language competence To collect data, a survey was issued to 122 major students in the Faculty of Foreign Languages The results of the two instruments, questionnaire and interview, revealed how social media platforms had positive effects on students' English learning skills Using media networks not only positively affects students' attitudes to learning English, but also enhances their proficiency in the process of learning another foreign language Conclusively, the usage of social media platforms helps students develop their abilities and raise their motivation Therefore , this research suggests that incorporating social media into the educational system will considerably improve students' English skills Keywords: Social media, media network, learning English, improve English skills, educational system Page of 14 Introduction Technology has played a key influence in the evolution of teaching methodologies in recent years Social media is one of the most impressive technological aspects that has been extensively applied to education In this regard, despite the fact that technology applications were created for entertainment and communication, social media tools such as Facebook, Instagram, and others have been incorporated into traditional teaching strategies as part of increasing students' ability when learning foreign languages, particularly English Considering that the majority of university students find social media tools appealing, most researchers have endorsed this strategy as one of the most creative methods to improve students' learning outcomes, English abilities, and learning attitudes Since that English is the world's official international language, it has become a significant part of current educational curricula Apart from that, studying English is critical for most students, particularly those from countries with underdeveloped educational systems, if they wish to advance in the future With all of the hurdles that come with learning English as a second language, the availability of a wealth of Internet resources has given students a leg up in their opportunities to reform their English vocabulary and communication skills According to (Zainal & Rahmati, 2020), owing to the online learning aids available on the Internet, nonnative English learners have had a great opportunity to grow and improve their English abilities both in and out of the classroom By forming communication platform, English learners (second language) can enhance their English communication abilities, at the same time learn from teachers and fellow students on social networking platforms (Khoshnoud & Karbalaei, 2014) Today, an estimated four billion individuals utilize the Internet, with teens and young adults accounting for more than 80% of these users However, as the technology develops more and more strongly, the number of young people who use social media is expected to keep rising, opening the new door for its inclusion into learning English This dimension has prompted researchers to investigate how social media influences the English learning process This study is an inquiry into how social media affects students' English language acquisition at HUFI University's Department Page of 14 of Foreign Languages Previous empirical studies have shown that social media platforms are popular among students there, just as they are in other areas of the world The purpose of this research was to see how social media affects English learning abilities and if it may assist HUFI students improve their English language skills Furthermore, the study suggests an online portal system through which students may readily engage in the learning process while also identifying the influence of social media in their learning As a result, the purpose of this research is to find answers to two key research questions: How does social media effect the English learning of HUFI students? How can social media be used to assist students improve their English skills? Literature review In recent years, social media have become one of the most significant communication tools for education, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic It’s one of the methods to enable learners to have more possibilities to access multiple sources of knowledge The use of social media in language instruction has evolved into a valuable tool for instructors and students to communicate and share professional information, allowing students to engage in self-exploration, self-awareness and selfimprovement Learners are able to enhance their skills and knowledge while using such kinds of social networks Some social networking sites can help students with their learning by providing possibilities to obtain and access information in order to develop, strengthen, and share their knowledge in the process of learning English Furthermore, it provides learners with the possibility of engaging in exercises without the assistance of an experienced teacher, and gets the chance to apply their knowledge in real-life situations Various research on the role of technologies has been carried out by (Alfaki & Alharthy, 2014), one of the new learning environments extensively used in foreign language learning is the media network system, which not only allows learners to learn at any time and from anywhere, but also provides simple access to numerous sources of global information This study aimed to provide space for student-centered activities, and chose Facebook to provide learners with a diverse Page of 14 range of activities and experiences that can improve them learning English away from the limited time of the classroom According to (Zainal & Rahmati, 2020), several Thai universities have used social media platforms to enhance teaching by forming Facebook groups to help students improve their vocabulary Teachers can supply students with information and expertise, while students may access the platform and post articles and questions Based on a study carried out by (Al-Rahmi & Othman, 2013), students' involvement is higher when social media are used in the classroom, according to the research, since social media deliver sufficient and up-to-date equipment Students are also learning the language and have the opportunity to collaborate with people from all over the world The majority of studies have concentrated on the link between the usage of technological devices and improved learning capacity The goal of applying technologies, social media to teaching and learning is to give learners more opportunities to maximize their potential According to (Al-Rahmi & Othman, 2013), in the United Kingdom, the researchers conducted empirical studies on social networking usability among university students Students said that social media platforms help them with arranging time for extra classes and that they may use their creativity in studying and communicating with foreign classmates in the classroom to improve their English language skills Learning via the use of social media networks allows students to actively learn while also allowing them to make friends with foreigners and work in groups Classroom experience cannot satisfy a student's understanding, so they should leverage their understanding of the tangible presence of technological applications to connect lessons learned to help students in future jobs Although social media platforms assist students in improving their English, there are certain challenges with acclimating to these platforms However, traditional methods still exist in the way teachers teach and in students' learning, which will cause certain difficulties in new ways of learning with media networks Materials and Methods/ Methodology The primary goal of this study is to examine how social networking sites are seen as a means of enhancing English language acquisition The results are obtained utilizing a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, which creates a Page of 14 comprehensive perspective of the analysis This approach is crucial to achieving the study's objectives since it offers suggestions for enhancing students' foreign language acquisition Respondents can express their opinions, ideas and improve their English abilities by using this strategy 3.1 Participants The study is based upon an online survey by English foreign language learners in Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry All participants were volunteered students, a total of 122 students took part in the online survey, which composes of 90 females, 16 males and 16 unknown individuals as shown in Figure Figure 1: Gender of survey participants The data were collected anonymously from third-year students ( Figure 2) of the Faculty of Foreign Languages at HUFI 3.2 Figure 2: Group of subjects participating in the survey Questionnaire design and Measurement Scale Page of 14 The endeavor to answer questions in a systematic manner is at the heart of all scientific research However, questionnaires are one of the most popular ways to collecting data in foreign language study and have garnered interest from researchers all around the world In statistical work, questionnaires are perhaps the most often used data gathering methods In order to determine how much social media affects students' English abilities and what tactics might be used to integrate technology into educational institutions like universities, a questionnaire is being provided to students in the Faculty of Foreign Languages There were eight questions total, with a range of question formats from open-ended to closed-ended to multiple choice Results and Discussion 4.1 Analysis of the Quantitative Data 4.1.1 Findings for using social media to learn a foreign language Nowadays, all generations use social media, which is a well-known form of communication Schools have incorporated social media as a learning tool to teach new material and engage with students in addition to being utilized as a communication tool Only 2.6 percent of students not utilize social networking sites or applications to study English, according to the data shown in Table below, which shows that 97.4 percent of students frequently use these platforms According to the survey's detailed statistics, there are a disproportionately significant number of students utilizing social media sites to study foreign languages, much outnumbering those who not This implies that the advantages these platforms provide are felt by both teachers and students Percentage ( %) Using social media platforms to learn English Yes: 97,4% No: 2,6% Table 1: Using social media platforms to learn English This study places special emphasis on the link between using mass media— specifically, social media - and improving and enhancing English acquisition of students Intensity of social media access, the material accessed, and the source of the content are some aspects of social media use In this research, the word "social network" refers to websites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and online educational tools like Zoom, Meet, Cake, 4English, Duolingo, Elsa, TFlat, Memrise,… and others Page of 14 The results of the questionnaire regarding students' usage of social media and online application tools for English language study are shown in Figure below Figure 3: Type of social media/ English apps accessed Applications and social media platforms are often quite effective for learning in general and learning foreign languages (English) in particular In addition, virtually all social media platforms and applications released recently have simple features that are convenient to use The quality of vivid images, videos, and sounds helps to create enthusiasm for learners Students also agree that the knowledge is well-rounded and comes from a variety of sources that are current with documents and other sources of information from across the world 4.1.2 Findings for the effectiveness of learning English through social platforms Most of the students believe that the application of technology and social media has certain effects for improving the capacity and ability to acquire foreign languages Social media sites are regarded as useful tools for learning languages Social media learning is more efficient than conventional learning, according to research on how it affects the learning of foreign languages Social internet exposes students to the most recent linguistic trends Furthermore, social media teaches students how to use language in an actual and true setting Additionally beneficial impacts of social media use include expanded vocabulary and better pronunciation Page of 14 Students self-assessed their English proficiency at an average level of 6/10 (which accounts for 44.7% of the survey data in Figure below) and 5/10 (accounting for 26.3 percent ) This also implies that traditional classes ( without the use of technology devices) is ineffective in enhancing knowledge and giving pupils up-to-date information Figure 4: Students' English proficiency before using social networking platforms to learn English Figure 5: Effective English learning through social networking platforms English teachers and researchers have recently focused more on the need to shift learning environments away from small, teacher-centered classrooms and toward more communicative and interactive settings where language learners can apply their Page of 14 language skills in practical settings According to (Curcher, College, & Emirates, 2011), the usage of social networking sites expands learning outside the formal setting of the classroom will provides students the freedom to combine knowledge and creativity Students believe that the use of new learning models, such as the use of social media in learning, is very effective, according to the data in Figure above On a scale of to 10, students give the efficacy from to points , even 10/10 (accounting for about 7.9 percent ) Type of content % Video 100% Text 16,7% Images 50% Audio 66,7% Table 2: Type of English Social Media Content Accessed Table shows that all of the students' access to English-language materials is in the form of audio (66,7%), video (100%) or images (50%) According to the results of an interview with a few research participants, social media information created in the form of video with an audio is more entertaining to watch and simpler to comprehend In addition, since English words are not spoken the same way they are spelled, audiovisual information provides a wonderful illustration of how to pronounce English words correctly In this instance, students may also see how the speaker's lips move to make the proper pronunciation visibly Therefore, students should be able to improve their English pronunciation via the audio-visual content Then, students are expected to be able to practice reading, speaking and learn how to construct grammatically correct sentences from the process by converting in the form of text 4.1.3 Findings for the benefits of learning English through applications (social media) Social networking sites is a huge library that makes it simple and quick to access, search, and find materials Traditional libraries need a significant amount of time, space, effort, and money to organize, arrange, manage, and preserve, and library users must spend a significant amount of time searching for them Things are now simpler thanks to social media platforms rather than written documentation Students and Page of 14 teachers may find the documents they need quickly and simply using social media or applications Figure 6: The benefits of learning English through applications (social media) Based on the data of Figure shows that up to 36,8% of students claimed that social networking sites (social media) save them time and money to learning English The majority of applications that may be utilized online are free Additionally, the ability to study anywhere and at any time (accounting for 84,2%) is considered by learners to be one of the main advantages of learning English through social networking sites They will learn more effectively if they have a relaxed, open mindset towards learning Students may study whenever and wherever they choose by sitting in front of a computer or smartphone screen rather than spending time moving On the other hand, with online classrooms, professors and students can engage in more dynamic interactions (about 68,4%), such as doing assignments on online applications with deadlines, offering resources and knowledge in a more Students can also make friends and partners with foreigners (with 52,6%) from across the world via social media platforms 4.1.4 Findings for the difficulties when using social networks to learn English In addition to the advantages and efficiency of utilizing social media platforms and online learning tools to improve students' English skills, there are also some drawbacks and limitations in the use of these new techniques The majority of Page 10 of 14 students believe that one of the largest issues that has to be solved is the network connection Students will miss lectures and become distracted in their online sessions due to the unstable network connection (or learning on apps) It makes sense, then, that up to 73.7% of HUFI students believe that issues with network connections are to blame for their difficulty in finding resources, according to survey statistics in Figure below Furthermore, according to the students, the high cost of materials (50%) and pupils' difficulty adjusting to the new method of learning (44.7%) are also major problems Figure 7: The difficulties when using social networks to learn English The traditional methods of teaching by teachers still exist in the new way of learning (31.6%), which is one of the reasons why students find it challenging, and students are still not really used to these technological platforms (21.1%) 4.2 Discussion Social media has been and will attract a lot of attention of the young generation Students now regularly utilize social media to communicate with others, which improves their capacity to find information and study in a more pleasurable way To help students develop their all-around abilities, particularly their English, every school should provide access to and the use of social media as part of their curriculum This also helps students develop mentally as they will learn about new information Teach pupils how to use technology more responsibly so that it has a less negative influence on their learning and a greater positive impact on their lives In these ways teachers Page 11 of 14 can play a role in the character development of students In order to increase and strengthen students' capacity to learn, social networks generally play a very crucial part in English learning In addition, it also generates a more dynamic and pleasant learning atmosphere for both instructors and students Conclusions The purpose of this research is to assess the effectiveness of using social media to improving English learning skills of students at HUFI This study discovered that social media sites offer numerous benefits in the process of learning a second language, but they also have certain drawbacks based on an online survey on Google Form The finding suggests that using social network platforms groups like Facebook, or online applications can be very useful as an educational tool Firstly, the result of the test shows that participants group could improve their language skills thanks to social media platforms Secondly, the findings of this study point to the fact that although interaction plays a fundamental role in learning a language and provides the learners with a good opportunity not only to improve and expand their second language competence, but also to discuss and share their view points with their classmates and their teachers in the English language classes Finally, according to the survey findings, there are certain drawbacks to utilizing social media to study English, such as teachers' teaching techniques that are not appropriate for new modes of learning or network transmission issues The study only discusses research strategies for assisting students in using the Internet as a tool The next phase of development will focus on finding ways to assist students utilize the Internet effectively and actively so that they may learn English independently without having to rely on traditional lectures This will support self-study and help them become more fluent in English In summary, students may utilize social media platforms as a language learning tool when interacting with their peers and friends, and they can use it effectively as a language learning tool Furthermore, teachers must adapt their teaching methods to suitable for the new methods Acknowledgements Page 12 of 14 This research required the cooperation of multiple persons to be successful Without them, the study's objectives could not have been fulfilled by the researchers The following people have provided important support and assistance to the researchers, and we genuinely appreciate it First and foremost, we would like to express our profound thanks to Mr Tran Tin Nghi, the Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and the main lecturer on this subject: Research Methodology, for granting us the chance to conduct study and for his helpful advice all throughout this research We have been greatly inspired by his zeal, vision, genuineness, and drive He has imparted knowledge on how to conduct research and effectively explain the results of that study We felt incredibly honored to have the chance to work and learn under his guidance We are incredibly grateful to him for all he has provided us We would like to express our sincere gratitude for his attention to detail, encouragement, and patience during our discussion with him about the development of our research Finally, we want to express our admiration for everyone who has assisted us in whatever way ( directly or indirectly) to complete this research endeavor References Alfaki, D I., & Alharthy, D K (2014) Towards a Digital World: Using Social Networks to Promote Learner’s Language American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 105-114 Al-Rahmi, W M., & Othman, M S (2013) The Impact of Social Media use on Academic Performance among university students: A Pilot Study JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, 1-11 Curcher, M., College, D M., & Emirates, U A (2011, 3) A Case Study Examining the Implementation of Social Networking Technologies to Enhance Student Learning for Students Learning in a Second Language Education Business and Society Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues · Khoshnoud, K., & Karbalaei, A (2014) The Effect of Interaction through Social Networks Sites on Learning English in Iranian EFL Context Journal of Advances in English Language Teaching, 27-33 Zainal, Z., & Rahmati, N H (2020) SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE LEARNING: A CASE STUDY European Journal of Education Studies, 1-19 Page 13 of 14 Zainal, Z., & Rahmati, N H (2020) SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE LEARNING: A CASE STUDY European Journal of Education Studies, 1–18 Zainal, Z., & Rahmati, N H (2020) SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE LEARNING: A CASE STUDY European Journal of Education Studies., 1-19 Page 14 of 14 ... Teaching, 27 -33 Zainal, Z., & Rahmati, N H (2020) SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE LEARNING: A CASE STUDY European Journal of Education Studies, 1-19 Page 13 of 14 Zainal,... give learners more opportunities to maximize their potential According to (Al-Rahmi & Othman, 20 13) , in the United Kingdom, the researchers conducted empirical studies on social networking usability... Respondents can express their opinions, ideas and improve their English abilities by using this strategy 3. 1 Participants The study is based upon an online survey by English foreign language learners in