The Phenomenon of English Language Learning Content in Instagram: Threat or Opportunity?

Abstract

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic require us to study and work online. So as in the education sector, new platforms have emerged as learning media, one of which is Instagram. Many content creators use Instagram as an educational medium. Based on those premises, this research aims to describe how Instagram provides English language learning content for its viewers. This research also identified the most viewed account and the most dominant content the participants viewed. This research is descriptive and qualitative in which questionnaires were used to gather the information. Linkert Scale is used in the questionnaires. Twenty-nine students in the fourth semester of the Diploma III English Study Program at Universitas Sumatera Utara make up the primary data. Books, e-books, and websites on the subject of this research serve as secondary data. Thematic analysis is applied in the data analysis. The research results present that Instagram provides English language learning content mostly in the form of short video, with explanations both in the video and caption. There are also in the form of picture/image as in infographic. The account of @Kampunginggris.pare is the most dominant account that participants viewed. Furthermore, the most viewed contents are grammar, vocabulary & pronunciation related. Based on these results, this paper claimed that Instagram is a platform that provides opportunities to spread English education. Because, mostly the creators/accounts are based on an English course or English learning center, hence it is act as one of their promotion strategy.