Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences
This paper identifies Malaysian university students’ needs and preferences for online English language activities on a Facebook group that supports their formal learning. Two methods of data collection were employed; content analysis of the Facebook interactions, and semi structured interviews. Four...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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2017
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| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/35866/ http://eprints.usm.my/35866/1/SA_Adi_Kasuma.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848877742763802624 |
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| author | Kasuma, Shaidatul Akma Adi |
| author_facet | Kasuma, Shaidatul Akma Adi |
| author_sort | Kasuma, Shaidatul Akma Adi |
| building | USM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This paper identifies Malaysian university students’ needs and preferences for online English language activities on a Facebook group that supports their formal learning. Two methods of data collection were employed; content analysis of the Facebook interactions, and semi structured interviews. Four main learning preferences or characteristics of online activities are identified; a) teacher-led activities (tasks and learning content provided by teachers), b) teachers’ presence (one or two authority figures to facilitate learning and keep group lively), c) topics or content (entertainment-oriented, grammar quizzes, opinion-based discussions), d) structure of the group (optional and ungraded). The passive participants found the activity beneficial in improving their online communication ability, while the more active participants felt a boost of confidence to use English in a more public space like Facebook. The findings indicate that the students are in need of technological changes in learning, but are dependent on teachers’ instructions to initiate the process. They exert selective interests in learning topics and content, and demonstrate partial autonomy in negotiating the online group’s structure. The theoretical and practical implications, and recommendation for future research are briefly presented. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T17:20:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | usm-35866 |
| institution | Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T17:20:17Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | usm-358662017-07-26T07:04:26Z http://eprints.usm.my/35866/ Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences Kasuma, Shaidatul Akma Adi P1-1091 Philology. Linguistics(General) This paper identifies Malaysian university students’ needs and preferences for online English language activities on a Facebook group that supports their formal learning. Two methods of data collection were employed; content analysis of the Facebook interactions, and semi structured interviews. Four main learning preferences or characteristics of online activities are identified; a) teacher-led activities (tasks and learning content provided by teachers), b) teachers’ presence (one or two authority figures to facilitate learning and keep group lively), c) topics or content (entertainment-oriented, grammar quizzes, opinion-based discussions), d) structure of the group (optional and ungraded). The passive participants found the activity beneficial in improving their online communication ability, while the more active participants felt a boost of confidence to use English in a more public space like Facebook. The findings indicate that the students are in need of technological changes in learning, but are dependent on teachers’ instructions to initiate the process. They exert selective interests in learning topics and content, and demonstrate partial autonomy in negotiating the online group’s structure. The theoretical and practical implications, and recommendation for future research are briefly presented. 2017-06 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.usm.my/35866/1/SA_Adi_Kasuma.pdf Kasuma, Shaidatul Akma Adi (2017) Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 8 (3). pp. 155-171. ISSN 2203-4714 |
| spellingShingle | P1-1091 Philology. Linguistics(General) Kasuma, Shaidatul Akma Adi Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences |
| title | Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences |
| title_full | Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences |
| title_fullStr | Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences |
| title_short | Four Characteristics of Facebook Activities for English Language Learning : A study of Malaysian University Students' Needs and Preferences |
| title_sort | four characteristics of facebook activities for english language learning : a study of malaysian university students' needs and preferences |
| topic | P1-1091 Philology. Linguistics(General) |
| url | http://eprints.usm.my/35866/ http://eprints.usm.my/35866/1/SA_Adi_Kasuma.pdf |