A Systematic Literature Review of Language Learning Based on Social Media

Abstract

Language learning based on social media has attracted increasing interest in recent years. Despite its popularity and utilization, a number of people have a skeptical attitude towards the impacts and outcomes of this emerging style of language learning. This paper provides a review of the literature on the use of social media in language learning from 2015 to 2018. A total of 17 articles were identified from 4 influential journals, Computer Assisted Language Learning, System, Language Learning & Technology and ReCall. A systematic content analysis method was employed to analyze the research directions, research purposes, theoretical foundations, research designs and learning outcomes of the selected studies. In terms of the research directions, foreign language learning and informal intercultural communication with social media are mostly discussed. With regard to the research purposes, they can be divided into two groups: from the teacher’s perspective and concerning the students. Most articles explore students’ language learning. As far as the theoretical foundations are concerned, among the 17 articles, 9 indicate the theoretical background clearly, and various theories are employed to support the main points. In terms of the research designs, compared with Facebook, WeChat, Twitter and other social media, language learning through blogs is the most studied. Taiwan has conducted the most research on social media-based language learning. The main outcome of these articles signifies the effects of knowledge acquisition, motivation, and intercultural communication. It is advisable that more research be done to explore the relationship between Chinese social media users such as Chinese WeChat users and their language learning.