The Impact of Social Media on Language Learning

Abstract

The introduction of technology in the English classroom has completely changed the teaching process. With the emerging trends in technology, teachers are adopting and integrating technology to ensure that students are more effective in language acquisition. Traditional classroom teaching can be replaced by social media networks. This provides teachers and students with many creative and practical ideas to create a conducive environment for learners. The Internet has recently become one of the most important influences on the English language, not only in acquiring existing vocabulary but also in giving life to a large number of new words and expressions. Among the wide range of web-based technologies, social networks have been dramatically dominating human life for years. The emergence and rapid growth of social media has attracted the attention of second language researchers. They have initiated a large body of research to explore how social media can be used as educational tools. In fact, a growing body of research has been conducted in a variety of fields, perspectives, and methodologies, and has yielded fruitful results. In this regard, it was necessary to prepare a synthesis to consider what has been learned, what findings are generalizable, and what deserves further attention. More specifically, these studies attempt to answer two research questions: the impact of social media on language learning as a means of developing language skills, and the impact of social media on language learning as a platform for intercultural communication. These two research questions are important because it is generally accepted that language learning involves both the acquisition of linguistic knowledge and the development of intercultural competencies. By reviewing relevant research, these studies attempt to identify significant findings, frame pedagogical implications for both educators and learners and conclude theoretical suggestions for future research and practice.