Developing University Students’ Literary Appreciation of the Novel by Using Facebook as Web-based Teaching Approach

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate developing the university students’ literary appreciation of the novel by using Facebook as web-based teaching approach. The study employed two groups of students (one as experimental and another as control). The frame of time was one semester. The study employed an eclectic methods; Experimental method, Descriptive and Analytical method. It also used a number of instruments to collect data from different sources; T-test, teachers’ questionnaire, and students’ focus group interview. The data collected via the T-test and the questionnaire were subjected to statistical analysis using the SPSS package program. Beside using a thematic analysis to analyze the focus group interview data. The study concluded that Facebook brought about statistically significant positive change in the performance of the students and that the students of Facebook group and the universities’ teachers perceived Facebook teaching approach as a method which positively influenced the process of developing the literary appreciation of the novel and teaching in general. The study recommended that the implementation of Facebook approach in teaching English in Sudan. It also suggested conducting a study on incorporating social network technology as approach that can be integrated with the current methods and approaches of teaching English. Another suggestion is to carry out similar studies on teaching English drama and poetry using internet and social network.