INTEGRATING WEBTOON-BASED PICTORIAL LITERATURE TOWARDS EFL SPEAKING SKILLS: STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES

Webtoon is an online comic-based social media that has the potential to be used as a medium for learning to speak English. As a social media, webtoons have strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered in integrating them into speaking learning. Thus, this research aims to determine the strengths and weaknesses of Webtoon as a EFL speaking madium. This research uses a mixed methods design with 33 students of English language education at Muhammadiyah University of Malang, class of 2020-2021. Furthermore, six of them were willing to conduct interviews to take statements regarding the Webtoon. The questionnaire data were analyzed using a statistical and the interview data were analyzed using a descriptive approach. The results of this research reveal the strengths and weaknesses of webtoons in improving students' English speaking skills. The strengths of Webtoon helps improve students' speaking skills through vocabulary and illustrated stories. However, these students also feel the weakness of Webtoon which hinders the student's learning process. Therefore, students need to be more careful, open-minded, focused on goals, and consistent in learning to speak using Webtoon to overcome these weaknesses.