Harmonizing Languages: Insights from YouTube Comments on Learning English and Pop Music

Abstract

This study explores the impact of social media, particularly YouTube, on English language learning and cultural acquisition among Indonesian users. With the rise of digital platforms, social media has transformed communication and learning, making it essential for educators to integrate these tools into their teaching methodologies. The research analyzes comments from 3 (three) YouTube channels through multiple theoretical frameworks to understand how popular culture influences language perception and learning. The comments were examined using Holliday’s Host Culture Complex (1995), which includes the categories of Institutional Culture, Societal Context, and the Individual; Benson’s comment polarity model (2015), which categorizes comments as positive, negative, relevant, or irrelevant; and Bhimate et al.'s YouTube comment typology (2024), which includes appreciation, normal, trolling, suggestion, question, and other categories. Findings reveal that while many Indonesian users perceive English as challenging, they also recognize its importance and express a strong desire to improve their language skills. The study highlights the role of popular culture, such as music, in enhancing language comprehension and cultural understanding. It suggests that engagement with pop culture can motivate learners and facilitate language acquisition. Overall, the research underscores the need for EFL teachers to leverage social media as a dynamic resource for language education.