Facebook : An Online Environment for Learning English for ESL Students

Abstract

On the lighter note, Gonzalez, Gasco and Llopis (2016) give a mixed reaction about FB usage and academic performance of students. The researchers point out the majority of respondents "highlight the advantages of Facebook as a space for collaboration, joint work and interaction" (p. 65) but negative aspects such as "multi-tasking which results in distraction" (p. 65) does arise thereby hampering academic performance. On the same front, a study steered by Hashi, Wasuage and Abrahum in 2018 with 77 university students of Somalia gives a similar mixed reaction. Although some participants share their ideas of FB usage positively, most of the students reveal to have used FB for "chatting" (p. 7828) thus wasting their time. Therefore the researchers declare "Facebook usage has weak negative relation with students' academic performance" (p. 7823) and recommends students to be careful when they use FB.In stark contrast to the previous studies, Ogedebe, Emmanuel and Musa (2012) disclose a negative correlation between the amount of time spent on FB and low academic performance. Without any ambiguity, the researchers conclude "the use of Facebook does not have an adverse effect on the academic performance of students in the Nigerian Universities" (p. 796).Rather more interesting study titled "Students' perceptions of Facebook for academic purposes" was conducted by Sanchez, Cortijo and Javed in 2013 with a sample of 214 undergraduate students at the University of Huelva in Spain. The study concludes the respondents are enthusiastic about using FB to interact and "communicate with their classmates and professors" (p. 146) which finally leads to better academic performance.Similarly, a study titled "Relationship between Facebook Practice and Academic Performance of University Students" was conducted by Negussie and Ketema in 2014. The cross-sectional survey conducted from March 2012 to March 2013 in Jimma University involving 490 postgraduate students specify "there is no relationship between time spent on Facebook and student academic performance" (p. 35). The researchers conclude blocking of FB is not a solution but colleges "should foster students to use Facebook for educational purpose by providing proper arrangements and training" (p. 35). In the same year, Ifeanyi-obi, Olatunji and Akpala conducted a study with selected 80 agricultural students in University of Port Harcourt to assess the perceived effects of FB on academic activities. The overall rating of the study shows "Facebook affect the academic activities of agriculture students positively (67%)" (p. 12). The researchers mention the "positive usage of FB like collaborative research and study should be encouraged" (p. 16). Mahmood and Farooq (2014) do share similar result from their study conducted with 150 students which concludes "there is negative relationship" (p. 54) between FB usage and academic performance. The same negative correlation between FB usage and low academic performance was proven right by Junco (2014) in his survey titled "Student class standi...

Multiple Intelligence and the Performance of Indonesian EFL Learners

“…They have covered many areas of EFL teaching and learning, including the teaching methods and teaching strategies (e.g. Ahmadian, 2017;Fahlevi & Rosyid, 2018;Dorji, 2021), the learning style (eg. Rezeki, Sagala, Damanik, 2018), the EFL teachers' competence (eg.…”