Enhancing ESL Learners’ Speaking Skills through the use of Social Networking Sites

Abstract

The globalisation and evolution of technology have had a significant impact on our lives. This is due to the advent of social networking sites, which are a type of technology widely used in everyday life, particularly among the younger population. Learning a second language, especially for speaking purposes, can be a challenging endeavour, particularly for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. The utilization of social networking sites as learning tools will help the learners learn vocabulary and pronunciation and gain the confidence to speak English. The various tools provided by social networking sites such as Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and TikTok definitely help learners immerse themselves in numerous skills, including speaking skills. This study intends to investigate the level of social networking site (SNS) usage among English as a Second Language (ESL) learners to improve their speaking skills. It also aims to determine the extent to which learners use SNS for educational purposes and how the number of SNS platforms used influences their speaking ability. The data was gathered from 165 diploma students at a public university in Melaka, Malaysia, with a structured questionnaire. Then the data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. The results indicate a significant prevalence of social networking site (SNS) usage for educational purposes, which greatly improves English as a Second Language (ESL) language skills. The study additionally discovered that learners who actively participated in various social networking sites (SNS) had more noticeable enhancements in speaking skills. These findings emphasise the significance of incorporating social networking sites (SNS) into English as a Second Language (ESL) education to promote enhanced language achievements.