Functions and role of social media networks in learning a foreign language: A case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the use of social media networks (SMN) by learners in teaching and learning a foreign language. To this end, we conducted a survey of a population of 176 learners. The collected data were analyzed via the SPSS for windows 26.0 program and an analysis of variance was applied to the data. At the coming of our research, first results have allowed us to identify the most popular social media network among student's educational department of French at Gazi University in Turkey. The WhatsApp application due to its simplicity and rapidity of spreading of the information it offers is the social media network most used by learners. In addition to the spreading of information, the ability to share content is also one of the elements of the success of this application. Our analysis suggests that the presence and interaction of learners with teachers of the SMN course is also an important factor in the popularity of these SMN. Sharing educational content and support on SMN such as WhatsApp would have a positive impact on the academic results of community members. The presence and opportunity to interact directly with the teacher on the SMN platform encourages learners to practice and therefore to develop their production skills written in foreign languages. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by IASE.