Boosting Students’ Confidence and Skill in Writing Using Social Media

Abstract

Social media are recently used beyond communication, it is also used as a tool to learn foreign language by posting content written in English. The purpose of this study is to explore the use of social media in learning writing. Problems faced by students in learning writing is the ability to generate idea in writing. This study employed descriptive qualitative research. The subjects were 30 EFL students who took basic writing course. Instrument used was interview, observation, and questionnaire. To gain the data, social media are used as a tool to develop students’ writing as well as to publish their writing. Students made outline, draft, and revision in WhatsApp group. They received instant feedback from both peers and teacher. They publish their writing on WhatsApp Group. Result indicated that WhatsApp is effective to be used for asynchronous learning in which writing project needs extra time. WA could improve students’ writing skill because it builds good learning community in which students learn by developing idea and content by sharing work and comments. In addition, WA could make students confident in writing because they had place to present their work and learn to appreciate it.