The Integration of Social Media Reels in EFL Higher Education: Enhancing Students' Oral Communication Skills and Cultural Awareness

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate Omani EFL students’ perceptions of using Instagram Reels to enhance their oral English communication skills and cultural awareness. A mixed-methods approach was employed with 96 EFL students providing quantitative data and 25 students providing qualitative data at a public Omani university. SPSS version 29 was used to analyze the descriptive statistics from the questionnaire, while content analysis was conducted to analyze the interview data. The findings showed that studentsperceived Instagram Reels as a beneficial supplementary resource for improving communication skills, increasing language awareness, and supporting informal learning. However, challenges related to rapid speech, unfamiliar vocabulary, accents, distractions, and vocabulary retention were identified. The study suggests that effective integration of Reels into education requires structured guidance to maximize learning benefits.