The Impact of Print Media on Second Language Acquisition among Undergraduate Students in Bangladesh: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This quasi-experimental study investigates the impact of print media on English second language acquisition among undergraduate students in Bangladesh. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 60 undergraduate students and 25 English language instructors across two government colleges and one university in Feni district. The study employed structured questionnaires and personal interviews to examine how various forms of print media—including newspapers, books, magazines, and journals—facilitate English language learning in EFL contexts. Results indicate that print media significantly enhances vocabulary acquisition, reading comprehension, and overall language proficiency. The experimental group exposed to systematic print media instruction demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional classroom-only approaches. Findings suggest that 66.65% of students reported positive effects of print media on language acquisition, with newspapers (50%) and books (23.33%) being the most effective tools. Teachers unanimously agreed (100%) that print media positively impacts all four language skills. The study concludes that integrating authentic print materials into EFL curricula can substantially improve undergraduate-level English language acquisition in Bangladesh, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world language application.