The impact of media on learning a second/foreign language to students of Central Philippine University in Iloilo in the Philippines

Abstract

This study was conducted to know the impact of media on learning a second/foreign language to students of Central Philippine University, Jaro, Iloilo City. Specifically, it shows the reasons of students why they study second/foreign language. The profile of the respondents was determined according to sex, semester, academic year and foreign language classes and their level of proficiency. It also determined what language skill respondents want to acquire, statistics of media form, number of hours per day in using the media and their perceived impact of media on learning second/foreign languages. The data were gathered through the use of validated self-administered survey questionnaire based on impact of media on acquiring language. Uses and Gratification Theory was employed for interpretation and analysis of the survey. Forty students, comprised of 10 volunteer students from each foreign language class, French, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean, enrolled in the Second Semester 2017-2018, answered the questionnaire. Results of the study showed that the majority of the respondents are female, and the mean age is 18-20 years old. Twenty eight out of 40 respondents answered that they enrolled in a foreign language class for communication and most of their level of proficiency was beginner. Among the respondents, speaking skill is considered as main concern of enrolling in second/foreign language class. Most of the respondents think that using media can assist them to improve learning other languages. Among the students who take second/foreign language, the internet leads the media form as the medium of acquiring second/foreign language with using 6 hours and above per day by students. Majority of respondents indicated that media help them to become proficient in the foreign language class and they have impact on learning a second/foreign language.