Survey of The Current Use of Social Networking Sites To Develop English Language Skills of GTU Students

ELT VIBES: International E-Journal For Research in ELT
ISSN: 2395-0595
Volume 1, Number.2. 60-69(2015)
Survey of the Current Use of Social Networking Sites to Develop

English Language Skills of GTU students
Dr. Sunil Shah

Assistant Professor, Department of ELT, H. M. Patel Institute of English Training &
Research VallabhVidyanagar, Gujarat (India)
Abstract
Today‟s techno savvy young students have been living in this ever changing world of
technology. If we glimpse in their life style, they caught up in social networking
Sites in such a way that it‟s became a part of their lives. They use social networking
Sites for the purpose of communication and sharing various information and
knowledge. But in this present era, there is a great debate and dilemma, whether
social networking Sites should be used in developing English Language Skills or not.
As a result, if we think on this case which provides a good platform for teaching –
learning through social networking sites. Then English language skills automatically
developed and the teaching-learning process became very easy, interesting and
effective. They learn English language skills whenever, wherever they want while
having fun with their friends. Therefore, we, the teachers of English language need
to utilize the advantage of Social Networking Site to develop English language skills
of GTU students.
This research paper focuses on how social networking sites can be used for
developing English language skills of the BE (2nd Semester) students of GTU. In this
research paper, the survey was carried out with a total sample of 30 students
pursuing their BE (2nd Semester) in various colleges of GTU. The gathered
information was coded and given percentages. Survey questionnaire method was
used for data collection. The result of the study indicates that young techno savvy
engineering students have been using advanced social networking sites for
educational purpose as specially developing English language skills.
Key Words: Social Networking Sites, ELS, Teaching-Learning.

Cite this article as: Shah, S.(2015). Survey of the Current Use of Social Networking Sites to Develop
English Language Skills of GTU students .ELT VIBES: International E-Journal For Research in ELT. 1(2),
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Volume 1, Number.2. 60-69(2015)
Introduction
Today in the era of technology, people use technology as the major means of
communication. This technology can be utilized in such a way so that teaching-
learning process can become interesting as well as effective. Currently as everyone
knows the use of technology is expanded in all corner of the world as well as in all
the field still as an individual , one has found though the technology is available
around us still especially in the field of teaching , people use the traditional method
only like „Chalk-Talk‟. Instead of „Chalk-Talk‟ method if the modern technology
and especially social networking sites like Weblogs, YouTube, Wikis, LinkedIn.
Facebook, Twitter, Flickers, WhatsApp can be used. It would be very much fruitful
for the teaching English Language Skills.So my aim of this research paper is to
emphasis on “How to develop English Language Skills by using recent social
networking sites. Thus, through these Social networking sites, we can effectively and
easily improve English language skills of young techno-savvy students.
Rational of the study
It has proved that students spend almost 90 to 94 % of their time on social
networking sites. Moreover, based on research studies in developed countries, it has
proved that social networking sites improve technology proficiency, enhance social
skills as well as promote students to learn English Language Skills as “learning with
fun”. But there is a great debate and dilemma whether social networking sites
should be used in developing English Language Skills or not.
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Objectives of the Study.
1) To motivate students to learn English Language Skills in better way with full of fun
by using social networking sites.
2) To develop the ability to use English Language Skills in Creative, effective and
productive manner.
3) To develop skills by learners through the use of social; networking Sites.
Research Questions
1) How do social networking sites help in enhancing English language skills?
2) Do the use of social networking sites affect young techno-savvy students‟ motivation
and to enhance learning English Language Skills by fun?
Hypothesis
Ho. There is no any difference if students will use SNSs for learning English
language skills.
H1: The use of SNS will enhance English language skills very easily and
effectively of UG students.
Literature Review
It is fact that social networking sites have attracted a huge following among
teenagers and also university students (Lenhart & Madden, 2007; Salaway &
Caruso,2008).As such Madge, Meek, Wellens & Hooley (2009) conducted a
research using an online survey among first year students of a British university
focusing on Facebook. The finding showed that Facebook is mainly used as “Social
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Volume 1, Number.2. 60-69(2015)
glue” that helped these students to settle into their universities life and the students
mainly thought of Facebook‟s use for social reasons and not for formal teaching
purpose. Kukulwar & Lokulwar (2014) state that commercial social networking sites
like Facebook as well as education-based social networking sites such as Ning in
Education have been recently shown to build communication of practice and
facilitate social presence for students enrolled in distance education courses.
Moreover, they state that learner used social networking technologies for academic
purpose and they mainly used them to conduct group work. It is also concluded that
the most pronounced benefits of social networking sites include that social
networking technologies improve learners‟ technology proficiency, enhance
learners‟ social skills and help learners to communicate in new ways with new
people in that order.
Vadhiya (2015) has highlighted that ELT students have been using WhatsApp for
educational purpose specially to develop language skills. Based on students opinion
and discussion, research has proved that WhatsApp is an important and effective tool
for teaching-learning as well as to develop language skills of the students. However,
the previous study only focused on one social networking site that is WhatsAapp to
develop English language skills of ELT students. Whereas this research covers use of
a wide range of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkId,
Myspace,Wechat and so on. So this present study endeavors to fill this apparent
research gap by exploring usage of social networking sites in UG students of GTU.
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Research Methodology
Participants
I have used sampling techniques for this survey. The survey was carried out with a
total sampling of 30 students including male & Female who are pursuing their BE (II
Semester) in various colleges of Vallabh Vidyanagar Zone of GTU.
Institute Number of Participants
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of 10

Engineering & Technology (SVIT), Vasad
Parul Institute of Engineering & Technoly, 10

Waghodiya, Vadodara
GCET 10
Total 30
Instruments for Data collection.
For the small research purpose, Survey method was used for data collection. For this
study, questionnaire was a major tool.
Data analysis & Result.
The data were collected from the students are analyzed in the following section.
Each research question is answered according to the result and discussed thoroughly.
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Table: 1
Social Networking Sites are used by students to develop ELS
WhatsApp WhatsApp, WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Other SNS

& Facebook &
Facebook Twitter
Googlel+
36% 24% 13% 10% 07% 10% Hike
We chat
Instegram
Skype
Line
Blog
When respondents were asked to give rank of social site/sites according to

preference if they log on to a computer with unrestricted access to internet to develop
English Language Skills and related to the work. With regards to use of social
networking sites to develop English Language Skills, 36% Students responded that
they use WhatsApp and Facebook to develop and related to English Language
Skills.24% Students responded that they use WhatsApp ,Facebook and Twitter to
develop and related to work of English Language Skills.13% Students responded that
they use only WhatsApp while 10% students used only Facebook. 7% Students
responded that they use Twitter as well as 10% students responded that they use
LinkedIn. So it clearly indicate that most of the students (36%) have been using
WhatsApp and Facebook while only 07% students used Twitter to develop ELS.
Other Social networking sites are also used like Google +, Hike, Wechat, Instegram,
Skype, Line and Blog.
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Volume 1, Number.2. 60-69(2015)
Table: 2
1.1: Skills are -Research skills, Research skills Communication Technology

developed by using Technology skills proficiency skills
Social Networking proficiency &
Sites. skills &
communication
Communication skills
skills.
36%) 30% 26% 6%
1.2 : Files can be Video file Audio Audio & Video Other
shared on Social
Networking Sites
related to lecture.
46 % 20% 20 % 14%
1.3: ELS developed Listening, Reading & writing Reading &

by using SNSs Speaking, Speaking Writing
Reading
& Writing
44% 20% 20% 14%
Table 2, 1.1: Skills are developed by using Social Networking Sites.
Students responded that various skills are developed by using social networking
sites. 36% students responded that research skills, technology proficiency skills and
communication skills are developed. 30 % students responded that Research skills
and communication skills are developed. 26% students responded that
communication skills are developed and only 6% students are responded that
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Volume 1, Number.2. 60-69(2015)
technology proficiency skills are developed.So research indicates that through social
networking sites multiple skills are developed.
Table2.1.2: Files can be shared on social Networking Sites related to lecture.
Students responded that both files can be shares related to lecture to develop English
Language skills. 46% students responded that video file can be shared on social
networking sites. 20% students responded that audio file can be shared. Moreover,
20% students responded that video and video file can be shared. While 14% students
responded that video, audio and JPG file can be shared.
Table 2.1.3: English Language Skills developed by Using Social Networking
Sites.
Students responded that they developed directly or indirectly for essential skills by
using Social networking Sites.44% Students responded that they developed
Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. 20% students responded that they
developed reading and speaking skills equally 20% students responded that they
developed writing skills and only 14% students responded that they developed
reading and writing skills.
Conclusion
This research paper has presented the result of a survey on GTU students‟ perception
and use of Social Networking Sites for the purpose of developing English Language
Skills. Through the discussion and students valuable opinion, it has proved that, as a
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Volume 1, Number.2. 60-69(2015)
teacher, we should use Social Networking Sites to make teaching English language
skills easy, effective and practice oriented. I strongly believed that if we adopt Social
Networking Sites as a part of developing English Language Skills then the outcome
will be drastic and observable. Hence, it is fact that Social Networking Sites are an
important, inseparable, innovative and effective tool to develop English Language
Skills.
References
1) Kukulwar, N & Lokulwar, P(2014): A survey Paper on Social Networking Sites in

Education. International journal For Engineering Applications and Technology.
1-6.
2) Zanamwe,N.Rupere,T& Kafandirimbwa,O.(2013): Use of Social Networking

Technologies in Higher Education in Zimbabwe: A Learner‟s Perspective.
International Journal of Computer and Information Technology.Vol.02 (1).
3) Hemat, A. Emabi,M & Hassan,H (2012): The use of Social Networking Sites
among Malaysian University Students. International Education Studies.Vol.5 (3).
4) Brady,K. Holcomb,L & Smita, B(2010): The use of alternative Social Networking
Sites in Higher Education Settings: A case study of the E-learning Banalities of
Ning in Education. Journal of Interactive Online Learning. Vol.9 (2).
5) Vadhiya, B(2015): Use of WhatsApp to develop English Language Skills of ELT

Students. International Journal of Futuristic in Multidisciplinary Research. Vol.2
(2).
6) Lenhart,A & Madden,M(2007): Social Networking websites and teens: An overview.

Pew Internet and American Life Project Report.
7) Suleiman, A. A.K (2011).The Use of Mobile Phones in Learning English Language by

Sultan Quboos University Students: Practices, Attitude and Challenges. Canadian Journal
on Scientific and Industrial Research vol.2.No.3.
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Volume 1, Number.2. 60-69(2015)
Author’s Bio-note
Dr.Sunil Shah is an assistant professor in the ELT department at H.M.Patel Institute
of English Training & Research, VallabhVidyanagar, Gujarat. He is primarily
interested in using multimedia and web tools for language teaching and learning. He
is also involved in course design and materials production for different levels of
learners in Gujarat.
60-69 69

Survey of The Current Use of Social Networking Sites To Develop English Language Skills of GTU Students

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ELT VIBES: International E-Journal For Research in ELT

Survey of the Current Use of Social Networking Sites to Develop

Dr. Sunil Shah

Key Words: Social Networking Sites, ELS, Teaching-Learning.

communication. This technology can be utilized in such a way so that teaching-

learning process can become interesting as well as effective. Currently as everyone

only like „Chalk-Talk‟. Instead of „Chalk-Talk‟ method if the modern technology

emphasis on “How to develop English Language Skills by using recent social

easily improve English language skills of young techno-savvy students.

Rational of the study

It has proved that students spend almost 90 to 94 % of their time on social

networking sites. Moreover, based on research studies in developed countries, it has

should be used in developing English Language Skills or not.

Objectives of the Study.

1) How do social networking sites help in enhancing English language skills?

and to enhance learning English Language Skills by fun?

Caruso,2008).As such Madge, Meek, Wellens & Hooley (2009) conducted a

like Facebook as well as education-based social networking sites such as Ning in

Education have been recently shown to build communication of practice and

facilitate social presence for students enrolled in distance education courses.

networking technologies improve learners‟ technology proficiency, enhance

people in that order.

educational purpose specially to develop language skills. Based on students opinion

for teaching-learning as well as to develop language skills of the students. However,

a wide range of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkId,

research gap by exploring usage of social networking sites in UG students of GTU.

Institute Number of Participants

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of 10

Parul Institute of Engineering & Technoly, 10

Instruments for Data collection.

Data analysis & Result.

Social Networking Sites are used by students to develop ELS

WhatsApp WhatsApp, WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Other SNS

When respondents were asked to give rank of social site/sites according to

1.1: Skills are -Research skills, Research skills Communication Technology

36%) 30% 26% 6%

1.3: ELS developed Listening, Reading & writing Reading &

44% 20% 20% 14%

Table 2, 1.1: Skills are developed by using Social Networking Sites.

communication skills are developed. 30 % students responded that Research skills

and communication skills are developed. 26% students responded that

networking sites multiple skills are developed.

Table2.1.2: Files can be shared on social Networking Sites related to lecture.

responded that video, audio and JPG file can be shared.

Table 2.1.3: English Language Skills developed by Using Social Networking

using Social networking Sites.44% Students responded that they developed

reading and writing skills.

important, inseparable, innovative and effective tool to develop English Language

1) Kukulwar, N & Lokulwar, P(2014): A survey Paper on Social Networking Sites in

2) Zanamwe,N.Rupere,T& Kafandirimbwa,O.(2013): Use of Social Networking

5) Vadhiya, B(2015): Use of WhatsApp to develop English Language Skills of ELT

6) Lenhart,A & Madden,M(2007): Social Networking websites and teens: An overview.

7) Suleiman, A. A.K (2011).The Use of Mobile Phones in Learning English Language by

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