The Interplay between Social Media Experience and English as a Foreign Language University Students' Attitudes and Agency

Nguyen, Tuan Dinh; Pham, Cuong Huy; Ngo, Duyen Nguyen Thien

doi:10.30466/ijltr.2025.55905.2931

The Interplay between Social Media Experience and English as a Foreign Language University Students' Attitudes and Agency

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Tuan Dinh Nguyen

Cuong Huy Pham

Duyen Nguyen Thien Ngo

Faculty of English, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance

10.30466/ijltr.2025.55905.2931

Abstract

Contemporary research has shown the prominence of social media as versatile platforms for language learning and practice. However, relatively few studies address the interplay between learners’ prior experiences, attitudes, and agency in utilizing these tools for learning purposes. Drawing on a case study design, the present research aims to explore this nexus by focusing on EFL learners’ affective, behavioral, and cognitive attitudes and their enactment of agency. The participants in this study were five non-English major students learning general English at a private university in Vietnam. In-depth interviews with each student were conducted and augmented with word clouds as a means of member validation following thematic analysis of qualitative data. Findings show that learners’ prior experiences with social media induced shifts in their perspectives on using these digital tools and platforms for language learning, contributing to fostering positive attitudes and proactive engagement. Each participant exhibited their personal agency in the learning process through goal-setting, self-regulation, and strategic navigation of resources. This study highlights the significance of the transformative value of social media in language education, offering valuable insights for integrating social media-based tasks into language curricula.

Keywords

social media

prior experiences

attitudes

agency

language learning