Theoretical Design of Social Media Facilitating English Learning Based on Empirical Study

Abstract

Blended learning is regarded as an effective concordance of traditional class and online learning. Among all the online devices, smartphone embedded social media software has occupied large portion which leads social media facilitating learning a potential to constitute blended learning. In this paper, an empirical study is totally completed which concerns the effect of subscription account of WeChat (a social media software) on college English learning. According to semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, it finds out that quantities of learners are lurkers or just drop out which can be attributed to the lack of persistent intrinsic motivation and external supervision. Therefore, a theoretical design of social media facilitating English learning is proposed and explained detailedly, for the purpose of offering a reference to integrate social media into English learning in higher education and a possible English learning mode, which also makes the persistence of social media applied to support teaching clear and effective.