Students’ Perception of the Use of Instagram as Social Media to Enhance Their Speaking Skills

Abstract

This book chapter explores students' perceptions of using Instagram as a medium to support speaking skills within the context of self-directed learning. Through a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected from interviews and questionnaires involving students of the English education study program. The results show that most students have a positive perception of using Instagram, as this platform provides space for flexible, interesting, and relevant speaking practice in everyday life. However, several obstacles were also encountered, including distractions and limited academic resources. This chapter concludes that Instagram has great potential to support the development of speaking skills, especially if used in a directed manner and integrated with learning objectives. It indicates that most students have a positive perception of using Instagram to enhance their speaking skills. Instagram features such as videos, reels, and captions are considered to help students practice speaking independently and build self-confidence. Additionally, interactions through comments or responses from other users offer further motivation for students to continue practicing. However, several challenges were also identified, including impaired focus due to non-educational content and a lack of control over the quality of the material accessed. Nevertheless, the use of Instagram is considered effective as a supporting medium for speaking and learning, especially when used in a focused and responsible manner. These findings provide positive implications for the development of technology-based learning strategies that encourage students' self-directed learning.