The EFL Learning Process: An Examination of the Potential of Social Media

Abstract

Social media as a technological tool has recently come to support learning in both academic and public use. Students typically use social networks to enhance their education by discussing and exchanging academic content. However, its impact that needs carefully study to the vast inroads that social media has made into the academic sphere. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine its impact on the process of learning English language in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. It also aims to determine the impact of employing a social media platform in the Saudi classroom on the learning of EFL students. This study explores the role of social media by giving a panoramic view of the types of social media and social networking sites, the use of social medias in education, social media in learner engagement, social media and students' achievement, social media application in the EFL classroom and finally, social media research in the Saudi higher education scene, and the challenges of each of these. This study concludes that students can benefit the most from these media when they are encouraged to use their mobile devices as learning tools. This conclusion echoes earlier findings in the Saudi context that showed the positive impact of social media applications in boosting students' English language learning. Based on a review of the literature gathered from diverse sources, it is recommended to investigate the inclusion of social media applications, platforms and sites in the English language course descriptions at Saudi universities.