Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 5. No. 1.
Juni 2018
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR IMPROVING STUDENTS’ ENGLISH QUALITY
IN MILLENNIAL ERA
Azizah Maulina Erzad, Suciati
Institut Agama Islam Negeri Kudus
azizahmaulina@stainkudus.ac.id
suci@stainkudus.ac.id
ABSTRACT
In millennial era, many young generations use social media for various purposes. One of them
is for improving their English quality. This study aims to know the social media applications
mostly used by the students, the English skills can be improved and the reasons why they use
social media for improving English quality in millennial era. The participants are30 students
of Class B, second semester of English Education Department in IAIN Kudus. In collecting
data, this qualitative research used observation, interview and documentation. Based on the
data, there are three results. First, the social media applications mostly used by the students
are youtube, instagram, facebook, and line. Second, the students’ English skills can be
improved by social media in order are listening, speaking, writing and reading. And, they use
social media for improving English quality in millennial era because it isfun, interesting, easy
to use/access, effective, simple and informative.
Keywords: social media, English quality, millennial era
INTRODUCTION appropriate media which can attract students’
The word ‘media’ is often heard in attention. Teachers should have sufficient
teaching and learning process. The existence knowledge and understanding of the learning
of media in a learning process cannot be media as stated by Hamalik in Arsyad (2009:
separated. The word media comes from Latin 2), which includes:
word "medius" which is literally interpreted a. Media as a communication means for the
as the middle, the introduction or the effectiveness of teaching and learning
intermediary which means being in two process;
positions between the teacher and the b. The function of media in order to achieve
language (Rosyada, 2008: 7). Teacher uses educational goals;
media as a means to teach which can stimulate c. The details of learning process;
students to learn. In teaching and learning d. The relationship between teaching
process, teacher may select various kinds of methods and educational media;
media. The media chosen by the teacher e. Value or benefits of educational media in
depends on his needs and purposes in teaching.
teaching. The teaching and learning process
will be interesting if the teacher use the
Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 4. No. 2 Juli - Desember 2017
From the explanation above, it can be as websites, games, YouTube, blogs, and
seen that media has a significant role in social media. Unfortunately, many parents
teaching and learning process. Media can help give a freedom to their children in using
students to receive the lessons or knowledge mobile phones and accessing internet without
easily. In addition, learning foreign language being supervised.
<< | 8 like English really needs media as a tool to Children and teenagers dominate the
learn. In learning a language, a learner should use of internet and social media in the world.
comprehend about grammar, memorize new Social media becomes one of applications
vocabularies, and practice how to pronounce which is mostly accessed by people especially
the words correctly and so on. teenagers. Social media is a convergence
The difficulties in learning language between personal communication in the sense
as stated before can be solved by using a tool of sharing between individuals (to be shared
which is called media. One of media which one-to-one) and public media to share to
can be chosen is internet. Nowadays, the anyone without any individual limits (Meike
advance of technology should be utilized and Young in Sari, 2017: 5). Sari (2017: 5)
properly by all of the people especially also defines social media as a medium on the
students. Internet which is as an example of internet that allows users to represent
technological advances can be utilized for themselves as well as interact, work together,
learning. Internet can be used for learning share, communicate with other users, and
English. Students may get many English form a virtual social bond. So, it can be
lessons from internet such as grammar, concluded that social media is a medium to
vocabularies, idioms, and so on. interact, communicate, and share with friends
The existence of internet cannot be or everyone in the world by using internet.
separated from the development of Social media is an interesting
information and communication technology. application so that many people like it very
Internet stands for interconnection- much. It provides convenience for people or
networking. Internet can be used for many users to communicate, interact, and connect
purposes including educational purposes. each other wherever and whenever. Recently,
Internet also brings a great influence in many almost everyone has social media. There are
aspects. By using internet, everyone can various kinds of social media and each person
interact each other wherever and whenever. may have at least more than two social media.
Furthermore, nowadays people are getting Many internet users are social media
easier to access internet. Internet can be enthusiasts. They can easily access the social
accessed easily by using mobile phone. So, media via mobile phone.There are many kinds
they do not have to use computer anymore to of social media such as twitter, facebook,
access internet. whatsapp, BBM, path, line, instagram and
Due to the development of many others.
information and communication technology, Since it can be accessed easily by
the use of mobile phones is increasingly using mobile phone, internet especially social
widespread. It can be seen that almost media should be used well and wisely.
everyone has a mobile phone including Internet should be utilized for the learning
children. Many children are currently very process, for example English learning.
active in internet. By using internet, the Students can access the internet easily by
children can access a lot of applications such using their mobile phones so that they can use
Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 5. No. 1. Juni 2018
Azizah Maulina Erzad, Suciati
it for learning and improving their English develop today include Facebook, Twitter,
everywhere and every time. As stated before Google+, Tumblr, YouTube, Blogger, and
that students or teenagers can get many others. Social media brings a combination of
English lessons by using internet (website, the scope of cyberspace elements in online
social media, etc.). Due to the widespread use service products such as blogs, discussion
of social media by teenagers, researchers were forums, chat rooms, emails, websites, as well 9 | >>
eager to know the use of social media for as community power built through social
learning English. Furthermore, researchers networking (Juju and Sulinta, 2010: 1).
were interested in conducting a study about Hamid et al (2016: 2) classified the most
social media for improving students’ English popular social media in some categories. They
quality in millennial era. are weblogs or blogs (i.e. Blogger and
WordPress), social networking sites (i.e.
METHODOLOGY Facebook, Twitter and MySpace), photos and
This study used descriptive qualitative videos (i.e. Flickr and YouTube), online
research. The participants were 30 students of encyclopaedia (i.e. Wikipedia), online
Class B, the second semester of English bookmarking (i.e. Delicious), virtual social
Education Department in IAIN Kudus. The worlds (i.e. Second Life) and virtual game
English students of IAIN Kudus use various worlds (i.e. World of Craft).
kinds of social media for learning English. Now, social networking can be called
They use social media to improve their as the favorite communication media among
English quality. This research aims to know students. Social network is defined as a web-
the social media applications mostly used by based service that enables individuals who
the students, the English skills which can be use it to do some things like constructing a
improved and the reasons why they use social person's profile to the public in a series of tied
media for improving English quality in systems and coordinating information with
millennial era. people who are connected as friends.
In conducting this research, the Moreover, in the current Internet era, social
researchers used observation, interview and networking media has created a new public
documentation to collect the data. After space, even further away, a new public sphere
collecting the data, the researchers analysed for the community, including the students
the data as follows: (1) transcribe the who take part in the community groups.
interview, (2) identify the various kinds of Students have a big role in the development of
social media used by students, (3) identify the social media today. Each student is estimated
students’ English skills improved by using to have at least one type of social media
social media, and (4) identify the reasons why account and most of them have some or all
students use social media for improving social media accounts.
English quality. Nowadays, social media become a
vital requirement for the students. However,
RESULT AND DISCUSSION social media are free, without rules, and not
Social media is an online medium that controlled, can cause abuse, especially by the
allows its users to easily participate, share, students. Such abuse may be the use of self-
and create a work. Nowadays, the type of defeating social media or the use of social
social media that develops in the community media which is dangerous for others. One of
quite a lot. The types of social media that
Social Media for Improving Students’ English Quality in Millennial Era
Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 4. No. 2 Juli - Desember 2017
them is for criminal acts, such as fraud, through social media is more fun because
kidnapping, persecution, humiliation etc. there are various features that stimulate the
Apart from the negative side of social users’ thinking to stay happy and not bored.
media usage, it is also useful in teaching and For learning English, she proposes some
learning process. Most student or associations ways. First is changing the account language
<< | 10 already have Facebook or Twitter accounts or settings to English. Language in account
groups. These accounts are used to share settings is a bridge for the users in
information related to lectures and or understanding the various commands in it.
activities of the organization. Social media With account language in the form of English,
facilitates student learning facilities, as means it will get them to speak English indirectly. By
of brainstorming and discussion among doing it, it is possible that they will be so
students, and as an online student forum. The proficient in English. The second way is
use of social media for positive things can trying to write status using English language.
familiarize relationships between users and Mastery of vocabulary is one of the important
also has a positive impact in real life. things in learning English. And, vocabulary
Another positive value of social media mastery training can be done through writing
is the various articles or papers that are shared the status because the users will find new
through social media can be a means of vocabulary that they do not know yet. And the
learning for students. Students who want last way is following groups that serve or use
something practical can take advantage of English. By joining the English group, the
social media without going to the library, users gradually will also feel free in the
buying books, photocopying books, or atmosphere of English in the group.
borrowing books. Students can access lecture
materials through social media appropriately. For learning English as a second
There are also lecturers who already use language, Mubarak (2016: 125) said that both
social media facilities as a means of learning. teacher or lecturer and the student must have
Lecturers distributed lecture materials good preparation if they want to use social
through social media to students so as to media for learning English. After conducting
facilitate students in accessing or obtaining his research, Mubarak (2016: 126) proposes
material. some suggestions so that the English learning
Social media cannot be separated from process using social media can be maximum.
English language because most of them use They are:
English language in its application or fitures. a. Students are asked to use social media
This is indirectly so effective to learn English. like Facebook and WhatsApp in learning
Moreover, if the students want to learn English;
English more, they can use social media b. Teacher asks the students to use social
because they can find the examples of the media so they can build social
written and spoken English language there. relationship with students who use or
The useful one is being able to find and know speak English;
the way native speakers using English c. Teacher must give explanation,
language. For that reasons, they can study the suggestion or tell the experiences so the
four English skills (listening, speaking, students will get clear information and
reading and writing). It is supported by Hayati feedback;
(2015) who said that learning English
Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 5. No. 1. Juni 2018
Azizah Maulina Erzad, Suciati
d. Teacher and students must make a deal to From his research, the project survey showed
learn English through social media that 83% of New Zealand citizens used
effectively; internet; out of which 80% used it for
e. Teacher must be familiar with the safety communication, 33% used it for instant and
policies when he shares the students’ fast messaging, 25% used it for playing online
data; games and 50% joined as the members of 11 | >>
f. Teacher must have a role as facilitator so social networking sites (Hussain, 2012: 640).
it can be said that the class or group is in Meanwhile, related to the reasons of using
the form of students-centered learning. social media by university students, Hussain
(2012: 643) showed the data 92% of the users
Backer (2010) also emphasized that community used social media for getting
integrating new technologies into assessment enjoyment and 73% used it for searching and
is useful to students whose experience with making friends. However, there was academic
the new technology. However, not all students use of social media as 76% used it for sharing
are able to use the technology and it requires their learning experiences and research
further work when the teacher wants to findings, 59% shared academic programs or
implement new technology. It means that the activities, 92% used for getting the new
best preparation must be ready before to avoid information related to their studies,
the various problems in learning process. educational developments/opportunities and
The components that must be fulfilled current affairs. 87% used it for academic
in preparing the English learning process networking at national and international level,
using internet or social media are integration, but 80% used social media for killing the
computer capability, and teacher activity. time. the preference of students to use
First, the most important thing in an English different types of social media. In his
education program is that the program should research, Hussain (2012: 646) also found the
be integrated, not as an additional program. types of social media which are preferred by
Teachers should be directly involved in the the university students. 90% of them were
program, such as providing homework and preferred to use Facebook, and 53%
classroom interactions. Second, students do LinkedIn, whereas 25% used twitter, and 26%
not always have expertise in using computers, had their own web-blog; however, 64% joined
but some of them can share each other so they Google Groups for their academic and social
can study together. And, teachers must purpose.
actively motivate students to use the internet. The second previous study is from
The trend to use social media among Mahadi (2016) entitled The Impact of Social
university students is always increasing day Media among Undergraduate Students:
by day and most of them use it for interactions Attitude. In that research, Mahadi (2016: 472)
and communication. Nevertheless, a big analysed the impact of social media on Art
number of the students use it for academic or students’ attitude from Art and Design
learning purpose. Related to the use of social Faculty in University Technology Mara. And,
media for learning English, there were some finally the research result showed that most of
previous studies which discussed it. students are involved in social media actively
The first is research from Hussain and they do realized the effect of social media
(2012) entitled A Study to Evaluate the Social to their daily life, especially their attitude.
Media Trends among University Students.
Social Media for Improving Students’ English Quality in Millennial Era
Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 4. No. 2 Juli - Desember 2017
The next previous study is from In the result of the interview, the
Sutherland et al (2018) entitled university students also said that they often use social
student social media use and its influence on media to study English in this millennial era.
offline engagement in higher educational Moreover, they are new students or the first
communities. In their research, there were academic year students (second semester)
<< | 12 106 participants. They were undergraduate from English Education Department so
students. In that research, they wanted to learning English using social media is very
know the use of social media for the useful for them. In IAIN Kudus, English
undergraduate university students and to Education Department is categorized as new
analyze the influence of the usage of social department or study program so the students
media on the students’ offline engagement in studying in this department do not have the
higher educational communities. Moreover, seniors who can help, share or teach them
the result showed that most students never or everytime and everywhere. Therefore, they
rarely used the social media to facilitate must have big struggle to study English. And,
offline engagement, especially in their social media do help them in learning English.
academic communities. From it, they can find and study the materials
Meanwhile, this study was conducted about English, the English songs, how the
to know the social media applications mostly native speakers using English, and so on. By
used by the students, the English skills can be accessing the social media, they can practice
improved and the reasons why they use social English everytime and everywhere. They feel
media for improving English quality in so lucky because they live in millennial era
millennial era. And, the participants were the where they can find or access everything fast
English Education Department students in and easily. Based on the data, the students of
IAIN Kudus. From the previous studies English Education Department use various
mentioned above, it can be compared clearly social media applications. They are youtube,
that this research is different with them. instagram, facebook, line, whatsapp,
Since the social media has become messanger, google, pinnterest and wattpad.
popular among students, the students of Nevertheless. The biggest number of
English Education Department IAIN Kudus applications mostly used by the students are
often use the existing social networks to youtube, instagram, facebook, and line. 40%
communicate with their friends. The role of of students use youtube, 35% use instagram,
SMS (short message service) which used to be 16% use facebook, 5% use line, and 4% used
a practical and inexpensive tool to whatsapp, messanger, wattpad and pinterest.
communicate is now beginning to shift to Youtube is as the social media mostly used by
social networking media. For example, even the students because they can study from the
if they have friend's mobile number, they start native speakers. From the video in youtube,
talking/communicating more often with their the students can imitate or practice, get
friends through social networking accounts. knowledge and so on. If this result is analysed
All information is shared in cyberspace, from based on Hamid et al (2016) category above,
unimportant thing (telling daily activities) to the researchers can say that the category of
important thing (information of certain popular social media mostly used by the
events). Social networking is like a lifestyle students is social networking sites., then
for them. If they do not use social media in a followed by photos and videos.
day, it seems it is not complete.
Jurnal Edulingua | Vol 5. No. 1. Juni 2018
Azizah Maulina Erzad, Suciati
Related to the English skills which can accessed fast and easily, including the
be improved by social media, the students can learning sources from social media. They use
find various applications used to study and social media for improving English quality
improve their English skills, whether it is because they feel that is fun, interesting, easy
listening, speaking, writing or reading. From to use/access, effective, simple and
various social media, students can find the informative. 13 | >>
learning sources, like video of English song,
tutorial, monologue, dialogue, or written CONCLUSION
information or knowledge. From these In this millennial era, students cannot be
sources, they can study all English skills. separated from the information and
These applications can support their English technology development. One of them is
learning process, whether when they are in social media. English Education Department
class or out of the class. So they can use them students of IAIN Kudus use it for various
by the lecturer’s guidance or autonomous by purposes. One of them is for academic
themselves. Based on the data, if the students’ purpose. That is used as learning sources,
English skills improved by social media whether when they are in class or outside of
arranged in order, the researchers get the class so they can learn English by the
result: listening, speaking, writing and lecturer’s guidance or autonomously (by
reading. themselves). After analyzing the data of the
In this millennial era, everyone prefers research, the writers conclude three results.
the easy, fast, and practical thing. The First, the social media applications mostly
students of English Education Department used by the students to improve their English
IAIN Kudus also try to have such criteria in are youtube, instagram, facebook, and line.
their academic scope. They do not want to Second, the students’ English skills can be
have or bring the heavy things. They want to improved by social media in order are
study easily and well whenever and wherever. listening, speaking, writing and reading. And,
The existence of social media do support their the students use social media for improving
academic purposes. Therefore, many students English quality in millennial era because they
said that they are so lucky because they live in are fun, interesting, easy to use/access,
millennial era where everything can be effective, simple and informative.
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