The Impact of Social Media on EFL University Students’ Learning Performances during COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria. The Case of Third Year EFL Student at the University of BBA

Abstract

The current study attempts to tackle the impacts of social media on Third year EFL students at Bordj Bou Arreridj University during COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on the way students of third year are exploiting social media to acquire their English language skills, improve their learning performance through using several applications: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Twitter. Due to the spread of the pandemic, the learning system has changed which affected the students’ performance to master the English language appropriately inside classrooms. Having said that, social media is an essential means that facilitates the learning process to both learners and teachers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to find out if the students were affected negatively or positively on their learning process through the use of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how social media contributes to EFL students. This study has been carried using a quantitative questionnaire administered to 144 EFL third-year students at Mohammad El Bachir El Ibrahimi University to ask them about their perceptions towards the use of social media in promoting their learning performance. In addition, a qualitative interview was conducted with 9 (male, female) students; it was applied to determine the impacts of using social media on third-year EFL university students’ learning performances during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our study, third year EFL students used social media applications in a beneficial way, they were impacted positively by the adoption of social media in learning English language. So, students’ learning performances were improved. Also, The COVID-19 pendamic affected their English language capacities positively. Using social media in English language learning among EFL university students during COVID-19 pandemic helps them in the acquisition of English Language. Social Media has a positive impact on students’ learning performances during the distance learning process. This in turn confirms our hypothesis, and pinpoints the main changes teachers might consider applying to ensure the success of the teaching / learning process