Using Instagram to investigate the

role of social presence in language

classes
Done By:
Nourah Al Hafez- 2016 0005206 and Inas
Ben Saadi-20170005558
Introduction
To walk you through a study created by researchers on
this topic, including:
Purpose of the study
Use of social media
Why instagram was chosen specifically?
Relation between this platform and teaching a new
language
Main Research Question
Methods used
Results
Conclusion

2
 Introduction
So when Nourah and I asked ourselves what’s
the most social media platform we use, we
have come to find out that instagram for us
was ranked as #1. Therefore, this guided us
into choosing to talk about the integration of
this sensational platform with learning a new
language at high education institutions.

3
Instagram in the UAE
It is considered to be the
third largest and active
social media platform as
per stats.
Instagram is holding the
monthly population of
over 3.30 million people
which comprises of 62%
male and 38% of female
users across the UAE
region.

4
1.PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
• To investigate the pedagogical value of Instagram for the
development of students' social presence in the language
classroom.

• Specifically, this study examines the development of social

presence in Instagram posts and looks at how students
establish a community of inquiry.

5
2. Instagram is also set to be the 3rd most
used SM platform in USA….
With adults usage about 35%.
While, Young adults are
especially heavy users of both
Snapchat 78% and Instagram
71%
But after instagram, comes
YouTube with 73% of usage and
Facebook with usage of 68%.

6
7
Why Instagram?
Because…
1.95 million photos posted per
day
2.300 million stories posted on a
daily basis
3.500 million active users
4. +40 billion photos shared

8
INSTAGRAM &
LANGUAGE
TEACHING
Instagram raises lexical proficiency and cultural
competence.

Builds community, autonomous learning and language

skills, motivation Increase informal vocabulary and cultural
learning via #hashtags

It contributes to creativity and innovation with memes.

Aids comprehension through images in written posts.

(visually)

Impacts students’ level of confidence to participate and

communicate with different people.
9
Research Question
In this research linked to our topic. Researchers
had asked the question of

“How does using a social media platform like

Instagram contribute to the establishment of social
presence in language courses offered at
universities?”

10
Methods..

A. Researchers had B. They had used C. The answers

applied this study a convenience from the survey
on 2 different sample and a were
language courses
survey on 2 miscellaneous
introduced at
universities
different and the
(French and language courses participants
Italian). offered to reacted in many
university different ways.
students.

11
After the survey was conducted
students were asked…
“What did you like the most about the activity?”
Students answers varied; in which some answered
• It was easy to do since Instagram is such an integral part of everyone's life.

• I enjoyed being able to use Italian in a setting other than the classroom or for
homework.

• I liked having topics that we would not normally talk about in French.

• I liked how it was personal and that we got to know each other. I liked reading
my classmates' posts.
I do not believe that our class would have bonded as much as we did if it was
not for this activity.

12
Results
Students’ Instagram usage for academic purposes is consistent with their social
usage (browsing feed, posting images, few comments, many likes) but less
frequent (every day vs. few days/week).

Students looked at/read most of the posts (and liked them); comments not as
much → Engagement with the task.

Students enjoyed using the language for self-expression and community

building.

Some students were not comfortable using Instagram for academic purposes.

The context promoted some degree of social presence, especially affective →

leads to engagement, trust, support.

Interaction between students was continually present, both within and out of the
classroom.

As semester progressed, students became more engaged in talking with each 13

other and sharing opinions, comments, and information→formation of strong
Conclusion
If Canadian University of Dubai had such an option of learning 1
new language for Students; then most probably such outcomes
would’ve been seen here because in the world we live today Social
media plays a huge role inside and outside of classrooms and helps
better engage our always connected students; resulting in positive
learning outcomes.

14
References
× https://www.4icu.org/instagram/ae
/
× https://blog.fullfabric.com/four-
ways-universities-use-instagram-
stories-higher-education
× https://www.higher-education-
marketing.com/blog/essential-
instagram-marketing-strategies-
higher-education

15