Language Acquisition & Learning

Mr. Ariel Ramos

Two possible questions that can be studied:

1. What is the role of social media in learning English as a second language?
2. How does social media interaction affect the student’s discourse competence using the
English language?
Write your Rationale with the research gap
Evidence Gap
1. Social media plays a vital role in the development of communication in general. In fact,
as proposed by Chartrand (2012) social media were shown to be effective in the
developing the areas of language production.
2. While numerous studies have investigated the impact of technology in language
learning, there is no comprehensive investigation into the potential benefits and
drawbacks of social media platforms in facilitating ESL learning among the Senior High
School Students of the Professional Academy of the Philippines. According to Hafner
(2011) social media alone may not be sufficient for comprehensive language learning
without proper support and scaffolding. However, in the study of Kabilan (2010) it
revealed that students engaged in online communication, collaboration, and exposure to
authentic language positively influenced their language proficiency.
3. Although social media platforms have gained immense popularity and are extensively
utilized for various purposes, their potential as a pedagogical tool for ESL learners
remains underexplored.
Statement of the Problem:
The core investigation was to determine the effectiveness of social media in learning English as
a second language among the Senior High School students of the Professional Academy of the
Philippines as proposed pedagogical intervention.
Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:
1. What social media platforms are being used by the Senior High School Students of the
Professional Academy of the Philippines for education purposes?
2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of using the identified social media platforms in
their discourse competence?
3. How can educators integrate social media into their curriculum and provide guidance on
responsible and ethical online behavior?
4. What effective pedagogical strategies, instructional materials, and guidelines can be
devised to harness the effectiveness of social media for ESL learning?
 Rationale of the Study
Social media plays a vital role in the development of communication in general. In the
context of learning English as a second language (ESL), social media can offer various benefits
and opportunities for language acquisition. Social media platforms provide an environment for
learners to practice their English language skills. Through social media, learners can immerse
themselves in an English-speaking environment.
One fundamental interaction pre-requisite is the acquisition of second language in
discourse competence. Sim and Pop (2014) focus on the effects of social media, notably
Facebook, in developing students’ English vocabulary. Besides, social media were shown to be
effective in developing the areas of language production, as proposed by Chartrand (2012).
Chartrand argues, following Swain (2007), that production is an integral part of language
learning. Chartrand claims that social media can assist students in learning the language
through the use of podcasts and videos. In the same vein, Woo et al. (2007) maintain that
multimedia materials can enhance students’ motivation to learn the language. Kamnoetsin
(2014) found that the social media platform assisted students in developing their grammar,
vocabulary, and writing, as it helped them share information and acquire new knowledge.
Hence, in the study of Kabilan (2010) it revealed that students engaged in online
communication, collaboration, and exposure to authentic language positively influenced their
language proficiency. However, according to Hafner (2011) social media alone may not be
sufficient for comprehensive language learning without proper support and scaffolding.
Beside advantages of social media platforms in education, there are also some
disadvantages of social networking sites in language learning. Because social networking sites
offers the users to communicate each other without any boundaries that will be used by the
bad people to do crime to the others. Ashraf, 2012 said that social networking is lack of
humanitarian aspect described it as a teaching lack of spirit. We can see that by using social
networking people around us. We are too busy with online internet because of this social
networking. It means that, though the students are sitting close to each other but they are busy
with their electrical devices. As a result, it is lack of social interactivity in the real life.
Networking sites can make people or especially students become very addictive. People spend
more and more time at computer which makes them isolated from real life. Using social
networks leads to decrease face to face communication skills. They are wasting time at checking
news as well as updating information or status. In the term of language proficiency, the youth
often use abbreviation or slangs to communicate each other. Because mostly social networking
using written context message, so sometimes students face many problems when they are told
to speak correct and professional English. Some of them are not able to form correct grammar
on the spot.
Social networking sites, “can be a potential hazard for teachers as some applications
allows users to communicate” and “the content can lead to discrediting or defamatory
messages”. (Jose Picardo, 2011). Furthermore, through social sites such as Facebook, Zalo or
Viber students become obsessed in finding their teachers on and intrude in teachers ‘private
lives. Social networking can also distract students from the study. Social media platforms like
Facebook can turn away students’ attention from what is happening in the class and it affects
the learning process. One more thing is that students can posting unsuitable content on social
media. This is one of the major reasons social media is not permitted in schools because it is
very challenging to keep eye on students how they use social media. A student can post inapt
content which would be distracting and harmful to students.

Research Design: Qualitative Approach

Research Environment: Professional Academy of the Philippines
Research Respondents: Senior High School Students