Social Media Platforms as Pedagogical Tools in Language Acquisition

Abstract

Social media has livened the digital world with its numerous modern features in communication, media sharing, and entertainment elements. As a part of the continuous search for effective and efficient ways of instruction, this review aimed to describe social media as a pedagogical tool in language acquisition. The methodology used was patterned to Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) approach to reviewing the literature. Fifteen (15) research articles published in online journals were reviewed to describe the effectiveness of social media when utilized as a pedagogical tool in language acquisition. Results of the review showed that social media is primarily used for communication, collaborative learning, and extension of learning practice. Writing skills and vocabulary are the primary skills developed in using social media platforms such as Facebook which is the most frequently used app for language learning. Participants of the studies show a positive attitude toward the integration of social media into language acquisition. In a conclusion, various social media apps and sites exhibit promising influence on language learning not only in formal education but as well as the extension of instruction outside schools.