Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching Methods

This study examines the effectiveness of using WhatsApp as a tool for teaching English idiomatic expressions to pre-intermediate EAP students in the Non-English Department at the University of Muhammadiyah Gresik. From a pool of 250 students, 64 participants were selected based on their English prof...

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Main Authors: Riska Widiyanita Batubara, Amrin Batubara, Tri Yuli Ardiyansah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: STKIP Al Islam Tunas Bangsa 2025-01-01
Series:Jurnal Evaluasi dan Pembelajaran
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jepjurnal.stkipalitb.ac.id/index.php/hepi/article/view/255
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author Riska Widiyanita Batubara
Amrin Batubara
Tri Yuli Ardiyansah
author_facet Riska Widiyanita Batubara
Amrin Batubara
Tri Yuli Ardiyansah
author_sort Riska Widiyanita Batubara
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the effectiveness of using WhatsApp as a tool for teaching English idiomatic expressions to pre-intermediate EAP students in the Non-English Department at the University of Muhammadiyah Gresik. From a pool of 250 students, 64 participants were selected based on their English proficiency using the Nelson Quick Check Placement Test and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received idiom lessons and exercises through a WhatsApp group called Idiom Learning Group. They practiced 60 idioms outside the classroom, interacted with the researcher, and could make WhatsApp video calls for additional clarification. In contrast, the control group received the same lessons through traditional face-to-face instruction. The study was conducted over nine sessions. The first two sessions involved administering the placement test and a pre-test on idiomatic competence. The treatment phase spanned six sessions, during which the experimental group used WhatsApp for instruction and practice while the control group engaged in in-class learning. In the final session, both groups took a post-test to measure their improvement in idiomatic competence. Data analysis using paired samples and independent samples t-tests revealed a significant difference in post-test scores between the two groups, with the experimental group significantly outperforming the control group (p < .05). The findings demonstrate that teaching idioms through mobile technology, specifically WhatsApp, enhances idiomatic competence more effectively than traditional methods. This suggests that integrating mobile technology into language teaching can provide learners with flexible, interactive, and engaging opportunities for language practice, ultimately improving their learning outcomes.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2621-7627
2714-9439
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Jurnal Evaluasi dan Pembelajaran
spelling doaj-art-fbfc28e322ab4562b07c520f650484b82025-01-31T23:19:46ZengSTKIP Al Islam Tunas BangsaJurnal Evaluasi dan Pembelajaran2621-76272714-94392025-01-016210.52647/jep.v6i2.255Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching MethodsRiska Widiyanita Batubara0Amrin Batubara1Tri Yuli Ardiyansah2Universitas Muhammadiyah GresikUniversitas Muhammadiyah GresikUniversitas Muhammadiyah GresikThis study examines the effectiveness of using WhatsApp as a tool for teaching English idiomatic expressions to pre-intermediate EAP students in the Non-English Department at the University of Muhammadiyah Gresik. From a pool of 250 students, 64 participants were selected based on their English proficiency using the Nelson Quick Check Placement Test and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received idiom lessons and exercises through a WhatsApp group called Idiom Learning Group. They practiced 60 idioms outside the classroom, interacted with the researcher, and could make WhatsApp video calls for additional clarification. In contrast, the control group received the same lessons through traditional face-to-face instruction. The study was conducted over nine sessions. The first two sessions involved administering the placement test and a pre-test on idiomatic competence. The treatment phase spanned six sessions, during which the experimental group used WhatsApp for instruction and practice while the control group engaged in in-class learning. In the final session, both groups took a post-test to measure their improvement in idiomatic competence. Data analysis using paired samples and independent samples t-tests revealed a significant difference in post-test scores between the two groups, with the experimental group significantly outperforming the control group (p < .05). The findings demonstrate that teaching idioms through mobile technology, specifically WhatsApp, enhances idiomatic competence more effectively than traditional methods. This suggests that integrating mobile technology into language teaching can provide learners with flexible, interactive, and engaging opportunities for language practice, ultimately improving their learning outcomes.https://jepjurnal.stkipalitb.ac.id/index.php/hepi/article/view/255mobile applicationsteaching idiomswhatsapp
spellingShingle Riska Widiyanita Batubara
Amrin Batubara
Tri Yuli Ardiyansah
Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching Methods
Jurnal Evaluasi dan Pembelajaran
mobile applications
teaching idioms
whatsapp
title Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching Methods
title_full Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching Methods
title_fullStr Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching Methods
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching Methods
title_short Enhancing Idiomatic Competence through WhatsApp: A Comparative Study of Mobile and Traditional Teaching Methods
title_sort enhancing idiomatic competence through whatsapp a comparative study of mobile and traditional teaching methods
topic mobile applications
teaching idioms
whatsapp
url https://jepjurnal.stkipalitb.ac.id/index.php/hepi/article/view/255
work_keys_str_mv AT riskawidiyanitabatubara enhancingidiomaticcompetencethroughwhatsappacomparativestudyofmobileandtraditionalteachingmethods
AT amrinbatubara enhancingidiomaticcompetencethroughwhatsappacomparativestudyofmobileandtraditionalteachingmethods
AT triyuliardiyansah enhancingidiomaticcompetencethroughwhatsappacomparativestudyofmobileandtraditionalteachingmethods