EFFECTIVENESS OF WHATSAPP AS A TOOL TO ENHANCE ENGLISH-SPEAKING SKILLS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The primary purpose of this research is to explore the effectiveness of WhatsApp as a tool to enhance the English-speaking skills of university students, addressing the need for additional language practice beyond limited in-class opportunities. Since there isn't much time in class to practice speaking English student frequently find it difficult to become proficient in oral communication. This problem is especially faced by student in settings where English is not primary language. Students may not have enough opportunity to participate and meaningful spoken instruction in traditional classroom settings could leave a gap in their capacity to communicate effectively in English. In order to get reliable outcomes and draw valid conclusions from the study, the quantitative research approach is employed throughout the data collection and data analysis. This study’s results demonstrate that WhatsApp enhances students’ fluency which has been reflected in the pre and posttest analyses showing a notable increase in vocabulary, lexical competence and grammar among participants. These findings which affirm that WhatsApp’s informal and interactive setting provides students with continuous exposure to new vocabulary, supporting vocabulary development, grammar and fluency beyond the classroom. This study recommends that English language curriculum designers integrate WhatsApp and similar mobile assistant tools into their programs to extend language learning beyond the classroom.