Research Article

A Literature Review on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter (X) and Facebook on Vocabulary Enhancement

Volume: 3 Number: 1 June 11, 2025
EN TR

A Literature Review on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter (X) and Facebook on Vocabulary Enhancement

Abstract

This study aimed to discover the impact of certain social media platforms’ use on EFL learners’ vocabulary acquisition and learning. It followed a literature review design and observed experimental, pre-experimental and action research starting from the year 2014 on the aforementioned subject. The outcome of the studies selected were observed in three different categories namely the impact of visual-audio based social media platforms (Instagram and Youtube), the impact of text based social media platforms (Twitter/X) and the impact of visual-audio and text based social media platforms (Facebook) on the vocabulary learning success of EFL learners. The outcome of the review of studies favored social media platforms which predominantly made use of visual-audio content (Youtube and Instagram) while text based social media platforms (Twitter) displayed a lower success. However, combining visual-audio and text-based platforms also promised efficiency. Furthermore, an increased vocabulary acquisition in cases which included social media utilization alongside classroom activities like reading activities was observed. Finally, once the total of the studies reviewed are taken into consideration, improvement of vocabulary was especially observed in cases which learners were active creators of content on social media through appropriate guidance; and the sole consumption of content on these platforms were not found as efficient.

Keywords

References

  1. Alharthi, M., Bown, A., & Pullen, D. (2020). The use of social media platforms to enhance vocabulary development in learning a new language: A review of the literature. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL, (6), 318–331. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/call6.21.
  2. Aloraini, N. (2018). Investigating Instagram as an EFL learning tool. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL, (4), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3226719.
  3. Darancik, Y. (2018). Students’ views on language skills in foreign language teaching. International Education Studies, 11(7), 166. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v11n7p166.
  4. Fouz-González, J. (2017). Pronunciation instruction through Twitter: The case of commonly mispronounced words. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 30(7), 631–663. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2017.1340309.
  5. Guo, H. & Li, Z. (2022). An analysis of the learning effects and differences of college students using English vocabulary apps. Sustainability, 14(15), 9240. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159240.
  6. Heriyanto, D. (2015). The effectiveness of using YouTube for vocabulary mastery. ETERNAL (English Teaching Journal, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.26877/eternal.v6i1.2290
  7. Kabilan, M., & Zahar, T. (2016). Enhancing students’ vocabulary knowledge using the Facebook environment. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 5(2), 217. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v5i2.1346.
  8. Kabouha, R., & Elyas, T. (2015, November 18–20). The impacts of using YouTube videos on learning vocabulary in Saudi EFL classrooms. 8th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation. ICERI2015 Proceedings, 3525–3531. Seville, Spain. https://doi.org/978-84-608-2657-6/2340-1095.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

English As A Second Language

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

June 9, 2025

Publication Date

June 11, 2025

Submission Date

May 20, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 8, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 3 Number: 1

APA
Cantez, S. (2025). A Literature Review on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter (X) and Facebook on Vocabulary Enhancement. Journal of English Language, 3(1), 39-52. https://izlik.org/JA28ZL22JZ