LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 22:3 March 2022
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Using Social Media for Autonomous Language Learning in the Indian Context:
What the Students Say

Sadaf Khan, M.A. (Linguistics)

Abstract

Extensive research has been done on using social media to facilitate and supplement language learning. So far, social media has been effectively used as a tool in language classrooms (Garza, 2010; Marciano, 2015), and the language teachers highly recommend it. But considering the high price of average language classes, they are beyond the reach of a wide majority of people who lack economic resources or do not have the time to spare. This is where social media comes in. It has become an inseparable part of our lives. But can social media be used as an affordable alternative for language classrooms in the Indian context? Will students be able to learn English and practice their LSRW skills? These are some questions this paper intends to answer.

The arguments are supported by quantitative data collected via a questionnaire answered by 114 English language learners. The respondents were mostly Indians, although some participants were from other countries. As far as their English competency is concerned, they were beginner, intermediate and advanced level learners. Based on the participants' responses, it can be concluded that social media provides the much-needed comprehensible input which helps them improve their receptive and productive skills.

Keywords: Autonomous learning, social media, M-learning

1. Introduction

If we consider the English language learning scenario in India, students, regardless of which state they live in, are introduced to English at a primary or secondary level. The emphasis is on reading and writing, and they get little to no chance to practice their spoken English. More often than not, learners struggle to read or write since the study material is uninteresting or seemingly irrelevant. That might be one of the reasons why they are extremely disinterested in reading.

Soon enough, they realize the social and economic advantages of being well-versed in English. Speaking fluent English is the major requirement in most jobs. They despair, panic, and join a language learning class if they can afford to. It is a popular yet misleading notion that language learning is limited to the classroom. This is where social media comes to the rescue. Unsurprisingly, 93.9% of the survey participants revealed that they use social media daily. In 2022, the number of social media users all over the world is estimated to reach 3.96 billion, (Statista, 2022a) out of which India has the highest number of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook users with over 680 million active internet users (Keelery, 2021a). And an average of 145 minutes is spent on social media daily by internet users all over the world (Statista, 2022a). 51.8% of our research participants said that they spend more than two hours on social media platforms each day. Since the internet is so easily accessible nowadays, the number of social media users in 2021 is estimated to be 639.47 million in India (Keelery, 2021b).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Sadaf Khan, M.A. (Linguistics)
21, Near Krishna Coaching, Raipur, IIM Road, Lucknow, 226013
The English and Foreign Languages University, Lucknow
sadafkhan982000@gmail.com
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