Social Media in Out-of-Class Language Learning Possible Learning Opportunities to Promote Digital Literacy

Abstract

Abstract-This study reports preliminary overview on the possibilities of utilizing social media in Indonesian out-of-class language learning, mainly focusing on exploring how university students define the kinds of social media and examining the potential uses of social media to be promoted. The study employed a small-scale survey to students in three different classes in Bandung. The results of the study were that 1) autonomous learning is relatively an exclusive mode of learning in that only some noteworthy students have been internally aware to reflect on how they should learn autonomously and utilize low-cost digital sources to enhance their learning, but have not been able to evaluate their strategies in enhancing their autonomous learning, which further indicates the need for external guidance; 2) social media defined by female students were mostly on the mainstream instant-messaging platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp, while some other students, mostly males, favor the use of online games and social networking platforms in their free time to assist their language learning; and, 3) majority of the students positively perceive social media in providing learning environment beyond its normal use, including female students focusing on utilizing English in their social platforms and male students actively engaging in online English language PC/Android games, though some students are against the use of it due to the lack of formal language engagement.