TASK 2: ONLINE ARTICLE REVIEW

            My chosen article on the use of technology in second language learning goes by the title :

‘Social Media in ESL Classroom: Exploring the Impact on Language Learning’

by Suria Hani Ibrahim, Nina Marlini Ahmad, Wan Nurhafeza Wan Salam, Mohd Zulkanain, Husna Nurul Izzah Jamaluddin@Noordin while Noraien Mansor is the corresponding author.

Centre of Fundamental and Liberal Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu.

Journal of Business and Social Development Volume 2 Number 1, March 2014: 14-18

The link for the article : http://rmc.umt.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/sites/53/2014/08/2.-Social-Media.pdf

            This study aims to explore the usage of social media focusing on Facebook in ESL classroom and the impact in language learning and it also hopes to elicit students’ perceptions on its implementation. This study was conducted at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) via ‘Let’s Talk and Let’s Go’ programme which was invented for students to interact via post and chat style. It was lasted for six months and during that time, the instructors or observers encouraged students to interact using the medium on task-related activity and non-task related activity. The respondents were 260 Form Four students from 13 schools in Terengganu. Then, students’ data were gathered from students’ interactions transcripts, interviews and observations made by instructors.

            On the whole, researchers discussed about the idea how social media (specifically Facebook) in ESL classroom can give significant impact in language learning. Despite the fact that the researchers were aware of the serious risks in incorporating social media in ESL classroom, they were discussing more on the benefits that it can bring to the students. Researchers stated that this medium provided students with informal learning environment through their interaction with peers and the received feedback on Facebook. As a result, it had an impact in English language learning specifically in ESL classroom. The researchers stressed that usage of IT has boosted students’ motivation which leads to increased usage and efficiency. Furthermore, the researchers believed the infusion of Information Technology (IT) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are a stepping stone for our education system to meet the rising demand of technology-based society as the young generation is spending more time on Facebook.  

            Looking at the posts and comments retrieved from Facebook during the six months, the findings revealed that 90% or 243 students out of 260 have participated actively on Facebook. The total number of the posts and comments amounting to 1267 revealed a positive impact of the medium. Clearly, Facebook becomes a means of communication as they frequently commented and posted on Facebook. 46% of the posts involved task related activity whereas 54% on non-task related activity. The researcher mentioned that students were active communicating right after having classes with their teachers specifically focusing on their homework. As for non-task related activity, they merely share information and social wishes among them. From the findings, we can say that it is proven that Facebook is advantageous to its users. The findings also supported the researchers’ idea that Facebook can be a tool for engagement of informal language learning focusing on reading and writing skills and a tool of interaction on both tasks.  

            To me, it is an interesting article because the researchers introduce a refreshing and stimulating idea ( use of Facebook in ESL classroom) to educators which can be applied in the new English language curriculum in Malaysia. When Facebook is used in the field of teaching and learning, it exposes students to experiential learning in which students learn by doing thus their motivation are multiplied. Furthermore, they feel responsible for their writing which contributes to the increased motivation to read and write more. Eventually, students’ knowledge on vocabulary, grammar and sentence construction can be improved.

            I also believe that this research is well-conducted as many methods were used to collect the data. However, I can see there are a few loopholes in the research. Throughout the research, the researchers are more inclined towards the pros of using Facebook in classroom but the findings contradict to their stand. Despite the fact that Facebook helps develop students in many ways, the result showed that the task-related activity does not interest them as much as non-task related activity. Therefore, we can see that there is a sense of biasness because researchers are trying to highlight the pros even though they realize the cons are empowering the pros of Facebook. The improvement that can be done to this study is the researchers could state more of the cons of Facebook instead focusing on the pros only.

            Since we live in the evolution of technology, the implication of this research is it can be a starting point in integrating social media particularly Facebook in a classroom which eventually transforms the conventional ways of teaching English to integrative learning. I believe students will enjoy and learn more if social media are used in classroom. With its implementation, government should support and provide adequate and accessible facilities for students to have widespread access of authentic materials. Despite there is a risk in implementing Facebook in classroom, perhaps we can overcome the cons by providing a better guidelines on how to use social media in classroom for our curriculum. Thus, it is advisable for the government to use Facebook in ESL classroom to engage students in the cyber world with meaningful purpose.