The effectiveness of using TikTok in teaching English speaking skills

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, virtual classrooms seem to be one of the most suitable options to deliver lessons for teachers and institutions; however, it also poses significant technical challenges and difficulties for them. In light of the importance of seeking effective platforms for conducting language lessons, several tech tools such as Padlet, Mentimeter, or Kahoot have been wisely used by EFL teachers; Tiktok, a short-form video-sharing app, has also been used in teaching language. Therefore, the research was conducted to examine the effectiveness of applying TikTok as a tech tool in teaching English speaking skills. The mixture of quantitative and qualitative methodology was chosen with a combination of phenomenology approaches for this study. Regarding data collection, the questionnaires were given to 50 first-year students while observations took place in speaking classes among 5 lecturers. Additionally, a Pre-test and Post-test were implemented to measure how effective TikTok is in a language class. Following the analysis of the above sources of data, the researchers have outlined three important findings. Firstly, almost all participants agreed Tiktok is the most interesting digital learning tool compared to others. Secondly, the majority of participants agreed that using TikTok improves their confidence and motivation in communicating with other students, and their ability to learn and acquire language. Furthermore, the result of the Post-test showed that TikTok is an effective app for improving students’ speaking skills. Finally, suggestions for using Tiktok efficiently in language classes were also mentioned.