Abstract
The field of English language communication competence learning and acquisition has been revolutionized by the increasing development of technology. The application of social media has now been popular inside and outside of the English language classrooms. The development of technology in the past fifty years, the more recent mobile devices and the Web 2.0 technology have provided numerous opportunities for its use in improving English communication competence. TikTok, one of the popular social media platforms among Chinese international undergraduate students, is now playing an interesting role in their English communication competence learning during Covid-19 pandemic because TikTok supplies English videos with popular topics among youngsters. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utilization of TikTok on EFL undergraduate students' English communication competence. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the potential on the utilization of TikTok and how it impacts on English language communication competence acquisition among Chinese international undergraduate students by reviewing previous and recent studies focusing on TikTok as well as other social medias such as Facebook, YouTube, WeChat and so on. It is important to note that even though previous relevant studies have showcased the positive effects of using social media as learning aids in English language communication acquisition, very few literatures having been published focusing on the utilization of TikTok in English language communication acquisition. The expected findings of this paper could reveal the potential of using TikTok for international undergraduate Chinese students out of EFL classroom in improving their English Communication Competence and for increasing their interests of speaking English. The researchers showcase critical views, recommendations, as well as implications for the utilization of TikTok in the field of English language communication competence acquisition among EFL undergraduate students.
Highlights
For EFL undergraduate students, one of the prominent motivations of studying in English-speaking countries is to improve their English communication competence as for English education in China is grammar-based for examination purpose [18]
Social media integrated with short videos have its educational function in helping EFL learners improve their English communication competence, especially for college students during the covid-19 pandemic [3].One of the most popularly used social media nowadays is TikTok
As reported by several studies conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, the utilization of TikTok among Chinese college students has increased drastically for whose major user group users are youngsters aged 30 and below [10,43].As such, due to the amount of time spent by these young people, TikTok should be taken into consideration for educational function [38].The explorations of the potential application of TikTok in education field have made success in science education in Indonesian and Indian schools [38].The findings of these previous related research have been indicated that TikTok have helped provide a platform for sharing knowledge as well as educating people with innovative teaching mode enhancing youngsters’ learning motivations and interests [43]
Summary
For EFL undergraduate students, one of the prominent motivations of studying in English-speaking countries is to improve their English communication competence as for English education in China is grammar-based for examination purpose [18]. Social media integrated with short videos have its educational function in helping EFL learners improve their English communication competence, especially for college students during the covid-19 pandemic [3].One of the most popularly used social media nowadays is TikTok. Wu [41] posited that the youngsters aged 30 and below, i.e., generation Z, dominate the major users of TikTok and they spend an average of 52 minutes every day on TikTok. As reported by several studies conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, the utilization of TikTok among Chinese college students has increased drastically for whose major user group users are youngsters aged 30 and below [10,43].As such, due to the amount of time spent by these young people, TikTok should be taken into consideration for educational function [38].The explorations of the potential application of TikTok in education field have made success in science education in Indonesian and Indian schools [38].The findings of these previous related research have been indicated that TikTok have helped provide a platform for sharing knowledge as well as educating people with innovative teaching mode enhancing youngsters’ learning motivations and interests [43]. As the utilization of TikTok has been a popular culture among youngsters in the current special period of Covid-19.So these EFL young learners can acquire English language communication competence via short videos of TikTok along with recording their own videos in English language and post their own short videos on the TikTok social media platform as a chance to practice their own oral English as well as getting comments from their teachers or their colleagues or other TikTokers via the TikTok
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