THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Abstract

The given research investigates the role of social networks in the process of foreign language learning by students at universities. Since Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Telegram are used daily, these networks have become an integral part of the extra-classroom learning process of students in learning new languages. This research was aimed at understanding what kinds of social networks students prefer, what type of content helps them most, what skills they improve, and what kind of difficulties they experience in learning online.

More than 50 students have completed this questionnaire consisting of 12 questions in total. It follows from the results obtained that most students use social networks every day; also, Instagram and YouTube are the most popular services for language learning. In regard to the types of content, participants claimed that short videos, grammar posts, and podcasts were the most helpful. According to the respondents, students mostly improve their vocabulary, listening, and reading skills with the help of social networks. Most students mentioned that social networks give them the motivation to keep on learning a foreign language.

Nevertheless, this study also highlighted a few challenges. The major ones were distraction, poor quality information, and lack of structured practice. A number of students were also overwhelmed by the quantity of content available online. Despite these challenges, most of the participants still recommended the use of social networks as a supplementary tool for language learning.

In general, this research concludes that social networks have a positive effect on foreign language learning if used effectively. They provide authentic input, are easily accessible, and motivation is very high. However, they should be combined with traditional methods in order to reach a balanced and effective learning process