INCORPORATING INSTAGRAM AS A MEDIUM IN LEARNING SPEAKING IN EFL CLASSROOMS: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

In the era of Industry 4.0, education has undergone a significant transformation due to the integration of technology. Platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook offer valuable opportunities for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students to enhance their speaking skills through social interactions. Despite the potential benefits of all three platforms, Instagram emerges as the most promising for educational purposes, despite its frequent use for entertainment, information, and social interaction. Furthermore, Instagram is one of the great free platforms where people can share photos and videos. Therefore, this present research aims to determine the strengths and weaknesses of incorporating Instagram as a medium in learning speaking in EFL classrooms. The research utilized a mixed methods approach, involving 34 eleventh-grade students from SMAN 7 Malang. Data were gathered through the distribution of questionnaires featuring a 5-point Likert scale, alongside semi-structured interviews to capture qualitative aspects. Purposive sampling was employed to obtain participants who met criteria relevant to the focus of the research. The findings of this research indicate that students have a favorable perception of Instagram as a tool for enhancing speaking skills within classroom settings, particularly regarding motivation, vocabulary enrichment, pronunciation, grammar, accent, and ease of access. However, despite its various benefits, Instagram also presents weaknesses that should be taken into account when utilized for the development of speaking abilities.