Learning English as a Second Language through Social Media: Saudi Arabian Tertiary Context

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the role of social media in learning English as a second language among Saudi Arabian students. Four year students majoring B A in English at Al Ardh college of Science and Arts for girls in Jazan University were identified as the participants of this study. The instrument of this study is a comprehensive questionnaire, which is constructed in order to explore the students’ perceptions and attitudes on using social media for English language learning. It is found that majority of the participants use social media to enhance their communication skills. Moreover, the result revealed that collaborative learning that are embedded in a social media may help improve learning activities which in turn leads to the success of learning English as a second language. Apart from that, some of the problems encountered when using social media and combined group work in the learning and teaching of English as a second language at Tertiary level are also highlighted. Most importantly, the students agreed that social media has by and large affected in their English language learning skills.