Translanguaging practices in online chat: a study of Chinese University learners’ WeChat use

The survey was randomly sent to WeChat groups populated by Chinese students in the UK, and used as a basis to recruit for further stages of the study. After the survey, participants were selected mainly based on their general disciplinary backgrounds (i.e., humanities and STEM backgrounds), with consideration of a cross-section of academic levels, genders, areas of origins in China, and years of length for overseas study as well.<br>From the survey, a descriptive analysis, followed by a Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation tests were run to explore the participants’ general attitudes towards social media and language learning practices online.

Findings show that participants show positive attitudes toward language learning through goal-directed practices on social media but relatively negative attitudes towards WeChat as a platform. Additionally, there is a significant relationship between participants’ social media use and their social networks, language learning backgrounds and study habits. A thematic analysis was then conducted to examine the participants’ digital literacy practices online. <br><br><i>Thesis is embargoed until 31 July 2028</i>.