Social Networking Sites: their Effect on the English Proficiency of Grade VI Pupils

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This study determined the effects of Social Networking Sites on the English Proficiency of Grade VI pupils of Buhi Central School for school year 2015 -2016. It looked into: the profiles of Grade VI pupils and their comparability in terms of the Social Networking Sites; the proficiency levels in English Language of the research subjects before and after their exposure to the different social networking sites; the significant difference on the English Proficiency among the four groups; the significance of improvement brought about by the Social Networking Sitesto their English Proficiency skills; and the test of significant difference between the post-test scores of the pupils' English proficiency who were exposed to the Social Networking Sites and those who were not given the same opportunity.

METHODS

The true experimental research involving the Solomon Four-Group Design was employed. The comparability of the four groups in accordance to sex, age, location, internet access, frequency of use, social networking sites visited, and purpose of visit were highly considered. The researcher analyzed and interpreted the results of pre-test /post-test given to the Grade VI pupils before/after the instructional process with regard to the use of social networking sites in effect to their English proficiency.

RESULTS

Most of the pupils go to internet shops to access internet followed by pupils using mobile phones to access the internet.

The frequency of use of pupils was usually once a day and Facebook was the main Social Networking Site visited by pupils followed by YouTube. Most of their purpose of visiting Social Networking Sites were gaming, communicating, and watching videos. Among the four groups, statistics shows that the groups who were exposed to the use of Social Networking Sites, the experimental group, gave significant improvement in the English Proficiency in terms of verbal communication, written communication, and comprehension.

DISCUSSIONS

Results show that pupils who were exposed in Social Networking Sites significantly improve their English proficiency. Teachers should not deprive the students from visiting Social Networking Sites but instead these can be used as a tool in improving their English proficiency in a correct manner, like conducting programs, lessons, and activities that will let thepupils visit the social networking sites which are educational and that may lead them into learning new ideas and discoveries.