Slang-ing into Digital Age: Exploring the appeal for EFL students
Authors
Mutiara Vika Law
Universitas Katolik Santo Agustinus Hippo
Efrika Siboro
Universitas Katolik Santo Agustinus Hippo
Antonius Setyawan Sugeng Nur Agung
Universitas Katolik Santo Agustinus Hippo
Monika Widyastuti Surtikanti
Universitas Katolik Santo Agustinus Hippo
Abstract
This study explores the appeal and sources of slang among English as a Foreign Language(EFL) students in the digital age. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structuredinterviews. The findings indicate that acronym-based slang, such as LOL (Laughing Out Loud), IDK (IDon’t Know), TBH (To Be Honest), and NGL (Not Gonna Lie), is the most popular, with 54.8% ofparticipants reporting frequent use. Other types include clipping (29%), imitative slang (25.8%), andfresh and creative slang (19.4%). Students perceive slang as appealing because it is easy to use (48.4%),helps them appear trendy (29%), and facilitates communication with peers (22.6%). In terms of digitalplatforms, Instagram and TikTok were the most frequently cited (64.5%), followed by WhatsApp(22.6%). These findings suggest that integrating slang into language learning activities and instructionalmaterials may enhance student engagement and make learning more relatable and interactive in EFLclassrooms.
