Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

January 2018

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Instructional Technology

First Advisor

Monica W. Tracey

Abstract

This study highlights a segment of a study that explores the incorporating the social media tools into language learning. These social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram...etc. have become such an intriguing social media that there is a growing need among educationalists, learners, and administrators to explore their impact and effectiveness in the field of language learning.

Objective: An updated systematic review was carried out of research studies looking at the incorporating of social media into language learning.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review on empirical research regarding the incorporating and effectiveness of social media into language learning. The studies we included met some specific criteria as well as collected from different databases. Besides that, the study used the CASP checklist and the guidelines set by PRISMA for choosing the eligible studies that related to the systematic review purpose. The data were extracted, and results were categorized into four themes then summarized using a narrative.

Results: Initially, a total of 1,085 articles were identified from which 21 were included in the study. From these articles four, themes were applied as the following: the first them is the studies numbers with the publication year which showed that using social media into language learning become more popular around the years between 2014 till 2016. The second them is social media tools with language skills which showed the variety of using social media tools such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp among the language skills. The third them identified the most methods that used in different studies to be approved the use of social media into language learning. So, it was apparent that experimental study with the pre-test and post-test design was most used in the studies. The last them is the effectiveness of using social media in language learning which approved that using social media was effective in most studies for improving different language skills.

Conclusion: Our review provides insights into the emerging utilization of social media in language learning. In particular, it identifies types of social media tools that used the most to improve the language skills as well as the effects of such use, which may differ between skill to skill. Accordingly, our results framework and propositions can serve to guide future research, and they also have practical implications for language learning and developing the design instruction.

Key Words: Social media, Language learning, Systematic review, Language skills

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