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Leveraging Online News for Language Learning across Diverse Educational

Contexts

Article in The Literacy Trek · November 2023

DOI: 10.47216/literacytrek.1361852

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 2023, 9(3)
The Literacy Trek

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse

educational contexts

İbahim Halil Topal

Gazi University, Türkiye / Contact: [email protected]

Abstract Keywords
Digitization has made the news accessible to many people worldwide. Since Computer-assisted
it contains large quantities of authentic language input, online news has language learning,
riveted language learners, teachers, and educators. Despite the availability of Digital learning,
multitudes of studies on online news, research is needed to explore its Digital news,
potential benefits and drawbacks to guide language education. To that end, Online news,
this exploratory research presented the possible educational impacts of online Web 2.0
news on language education, offered a practical guideline for language Submission date
teachers, and suggested specific news websites to utilize. The examination of 17.09.2023
a systematic literature review revealed eight potential advantages (real-world Acceptance date
context, vocabulary expansion, grammatical/syntactical practice, heightened 28.11.2023
cultural awareness, practice/improvement in four skills, authentic language
input, and content diversity) and disadvantages (linguistic complexity,
content bias and inaccuracy, limited interactivity, time consumption,
accessibility, and technology dependency, information overload, digital
distraction, and privacy concern). Accordingly, a five-step practical guideline
for using online news for classroom teaching is suggested for language
teachers. The research offers news websites beneficial to multilingual and
multicultural learning and awareness. Finally, the research concludes with
some limitations and recommendations for future studies.
© 2023 The Literacy Trek & the Authors – Published by The Literacy Trek
https://doi.org/10.47216/literacytrek.1361852

Introduction

Language education is at a critical juncture in an era marked by an unprecedented surge

in digital information and the ongoing development of information communication
technologies. The widespread availability of the Internet and online news sources has
completely altered language learning and teaching contexts besides the dissemination
of information (Kern, 2014; Whelan et al., 2010). Language educators face a unique
challenge and opportunity in today’s digital world: leveraging the vast and ever-
changing world of online news to improve language learning outcomes.

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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

Traditionally confined to textbook use and classroom instruction, language

education is increasingly supplemented and enhanced by exploiting authentic, real-
world language resources, with the emergence of online news as a potent tool (Moglen,
2014; Warschauer & Meskill, 2013). In addition, the digitization of news has created a
globalized space for language learners to obtain and interact with authentic content
worldwide (Reese, 2016). Through this democratized information, learners are not only
exposed to a wide variety of languages and dialects. Still, they are also immersed in the
cultural environments in which these languages are spoken. In a globalized environment
where intercultural communication is paramount, incorporating online news into
linguistic education is a strategic necessity (Jackson, 2019).

The role of online news in the current information environment is essential, as it

integrates seamlessly with ideas related to computer-assisted language learning (CALL)
and other digital literacy competencies. As more and more people rely on the internet
for their daily news (Caled & Silva, 2022), they unintentionally become part of
continuous language education (Gu et al., 2014). Due to its dynamic nature, online news
content exposes readers to a wide variety of vocabulary (Dang & Long, 2023), language
structures (Taqiyyah & Aswir, 2022), and writing styles (Liunokas, 2016), which, in
turn, contributes to language proficiency. In addition, online news platforms have
interactive elements, such as comment sections and user-generated content, which
encourage language learners to engage in discussions and voice their views, improving
their language skills in real-life situations (Deffor, 2015). In addition, access to
international news facilitates intercultural knowledge and introduces students to various
accents and dialects (Gómez-Rodríguez, 2018; Lee & Drajati, 2019). Online news is a
practical tool for keeping oneself informed and aids in language learning, digital
literacy, and intercultural competency, making it an essential element of modern
language education.

Considering all these, this study aims to explore the impact of online news as a
valuable digital resource on language education. It, therefore, intends to investigate the
potential benefits and drawbacks of online news in language learning and teaching for
teachers and educators to serve as a practical pedagogical guide. To this end, harnessing
online news is initially grounded on a theoretical rationale. Previous work on using
online news is then cited. The potential educational gains and pitfalls of online news are

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next explained. A framework for employing online news in classroom teaching is later
provided. Ultimately, the article is concluded with limitations to the present research
and recommendations for further ones.

Literature Review
Theoretical Background

Using online news as part of language learning can be based on diverse educational
theories and concepts. The first is Krashen’s (1985) Input Hypothesis, which posits that
language learners benefit most from language input slightly above their current
proficiency level. This type of input can be provided through the wide range of
vocabulary and sentence structures in online news articles, facilitating language
learning. A second relevant concept is the theory of task motivation (Locke, 1968),
which postulates that motivational factors influence an individual’s attitude toward a
particular task. Online news articles can increase learner motivation by providing
engaging and relevant assignments pertinent to learners’ interests and requirements, thus
increasing their intrinsic motivation to learn (Dörnyei, 2001).

Incorporating online news also accords with the general trend of technology-
enhanced language learning, acknowledging the advantages of digital resources to
facilitate language learning and provide varied learning opportunities (Levy &
Stockwell, 2006). Another theoretical ground that online news can be based on is
content-based language teaching (Snow & Brinton, 1997), which combines language
learning with other study areas. By using online news as a resource, learners can explore
various topics, assisting them in learning languages from different genres. An additional
conceptual framework to ground the subject of interest is the information processing
theory, suggesting that learners are more likely to process and retain information thanks
to meaning and relevance (Slate & Charlesworth, 1988). The content of online news
articles, frequently related to real-world events and topics of interest to learners, can
stimulate cognitive processes, thereby improving language retention and
comprehension.

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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) is another theoretical concept that

might be grounded in harnessing online news in language education. TBLT aims to
facilitate language acquisition through activities that learners may encounter in their
everyday lives (Willis & Willis, 2007). Tasks such as analyzing news articles,
summarizing key points, or discussion of news stories encourage the authentic use of
language in practice. Another relevant theoretical concept, critical language awareness
(Fairlough, 2014) concentrates on developing learners’ cognitive abilities to think
critically about the language use in different contexts, such as its utilization in the media
and society. Learners can acquire the necessary skills through the analysis of online
news to become more discerning consumers of information and gain an understanding
of language usage in journalism.

Additionally, Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory, which emphasizes social

interaction and cultural context in learning, might justify using online news for language
learning and teaching. Online news articles often represent cultural, social, and political
dimensions of the language, thus providing valuable resources for examining these
dimensions in language education. Finally, Piaget and Vygotsky's constructivist
theories, which maintain that learners build their knowledge through experience and
interaction (Ertmer & Newby, 1993), might underpin the framework for employing
online news for language education. In sum, these theoretical frameworks all support
online news as an excellent tool for language learning. They emphasize the value of
authentic input, meaningful tasks, cultural content, and critical awareness inherent to
online news as a language learning tool.

Research on Using (Online) News in Language Education

An earlier study investigating the role of the news in language learning belongs to
Brinton and Gaskill (1978). Their study on using news broadcasts reported enhanced
learner comprehension, heightened learner interest, and better understanding of the
target culture. Another leading study was Morrison’s (1989), asserting that radio
broadcasts might improve listening comprehension due to authenticity,
interesting/motivating nature, currency, and flexibility. In her study incorporating
intercultural correspondence and news stories, Marden (2007) revealed promising
results for heightened learner interest in Italian language and culture. Park’s (2011)
study showed that the linguistic resources provided by news articles and

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personal/cultural experiences helped learners build critical literacy. In a study,

Marchand and Rowland (2013) designed a course that included web materials based on
news, asked learners to reflect on the news stories weekly, and found that learners’ self-
expressive confidence and active engagement in virtual discussions improved.
Supporting evidence was reported by Lee’s (2014) study, which revealed that digital
news stories helped enhance learners’ self-confidence, self-expression, and
multiliteracy skills. A heightened learner interest in performing speaking activities
through news reports was concluded in Aboe ’s study (2016). Similarly, Walters (2017)
reported improved critical literacy awareness of moral leadership thanks to weekly
articles. Higher critical intercultural awareness levels of learners were reported by
Gómez-Rodríguez’s (2018) study, where learners were exposed to news stories
including stereotyping and culturally conflicting content (e.g., injustice and gender
inequality) and asked to reflect on them. Pranoto (2020) demonstrated that learners
exhibited positive attitudes toward exploiting news voiceover activities in their
pronunciation course. Chong (2021) examined the role of a dictation activity using news
stories in practicing speaking and revealed that learners became more self-confident in
verbal English practice. The same year, Rozak et al. (2021) indicated that employing
similar news stories in narrow listening instead of extensive listening enabled student
teachers to become familiar with similar grammatical structures and vocabulary of
spoken texts from similar themes/subjects.

On the other hand, negative findings were also cited in the literature. In a study
by Zulfikar et al. (2020), the following learner problems were reported when listening
to news stories: uncommon topics and vocabulary, accentual diversity, rapid speech,
unclear pronunciation, complex grammar, and lengthy texts. This finding suggests the
significance of choosing news stories appropriate for learners’ levels. However, Bahrani
and Sim (2012) found contradicting results, reporting that the groups exposed to
authentic input via cartoons and movies outperformed the ones who received input via
news. In addition to being a context-dependent finding, this result might have stemmed
from the low-proficiency learner levels and inappropriate choice of news material.
Similarly, Setyowati and Sukmawan (2021) found no impact of news stories on learners’
written performances. This might have been because of the delivery mode of the course
(hybrid) during the pandemic when learners might have had other priorities.
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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

Methodology

Research Design and Questions

Employing a systematic literature review (Feak & Swales, 2009) and being exploratory
(Bernd, 2017), this study aims to examine the educational implications of online news
on language education, evaluate its inherent advantages and disadvantages, devise a
practical guide for educators to effectively integrate online news in their teaching
methods, and identify particular news sources that are conducive to language learning.
The following research questions were addressed in this regard:

RQ (1). What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of using online news in
language education?

RQ (2). How can online news be effectively incorporated into language teachers'
teaching methods?

RQ (3). What are the available news websites that are optimal for language
pedagogy?

Data Collection

Data were collected from databases such as ERIC, Google Scholar, Sage, ScienceDirect,
and Taylor & Francis to address the research questions. These databases were searched
for all the potential studies about using online news in language education. The search
was not limited to time; however, queries were made using such keywords as “news,”
“online news,” “language,” “language education,” “digital news,” “language learning,”
and “language teaching.” Further criteria were adopted in the database search: (i) The
language of the article must be English, (ii) The study must include the keywords in its
title, and (iii) The study must be in language and education contexts. The initial
screening revealed 423 research articles in five databases (ERIC =95, Google Scholar
=70, Sage =147, ScienceDirect =62, and Taylor & Francis =49). Relevant theses and
dissertations (e.g., Jeong, 2012) were also added to the search to eliminate publication
bias. Following the close examination by three researchers and the excluded articles that
did not meet the inclusion criteria, the total sum was finalized as 64.

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Data Analysis

Qualitative content analysis was utilized to analyze the raw data following the
suggestions of previous research (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005; Mayring, 2000; Patton,
2002). In this context, the data were initially prepared. The coding units were then
defined as the entire document, specifically referring to physical linguistic units (e.g.,
words such as online news, benefits, and drawbacks). Categories (e.g., real-world
context and linguistic complexity) were identified next, followed by labeling them under
coding schemes (i.e., advantages and disadvantages). A sample was coded to establish
coding consistency between the three coders. Following a high inter-coder agreement,
all the data set was coded. The entire coding was rechecked for consistency.
Subsequently, conclusions were made from the coded data. Finally, the findings were
ready for reporting.

The recommendations of Lincoln and Guba (1985) were followed for

trustworthiness (i.e., credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability). To
this end, peer debriefing was utilized for credibility. Also, the coders were all
knowledgeable in the field of language education, contributing to the credibility. The
findings are assumed to be transferrable to other contexts since the content was analyzed
objectively and consistently. Raw data, memos, coding manuals, and process notes were
used to maintain dependability and confirmability within the auditing context.

Findings and Discussion

The Potential Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Online News in Language

Education

Following a systematic literature review, the following benefits and drawbacks (Table
1) were cited as to the utilization of online news in language education:

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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

Table 1
The references to the potential pedagogical benefits and drawbacks of using online news in language
education
Advantages Relevant References
real-world context Aayeshah, 2012; Abdurakhmanov, 2023; Oura, 2001
Abeyweera, 2021; Bahrani & Sim, 2012; Chavangklang et al.,
2019; Dang & Long, 2023; Katemba & Parilia, 2020;
Munawarah et al., 2020; Rohmatillah, 2016; Shakibaei et al.,
vocabulary expansion
2019; Shamim et al., 2023; Singh, 2022; Sultana & Taghavi
et al., 2012; Teng, 2015; Tran, 2023; Wijajanti, 2020; Zhang
& Milton, 2022
grammatical /syntactical practice Khodabandeh & Tharirian, 2020; Omar et al., 2018; Özkan,
2015; Taqiyyah & Aswir, 2022
heightened cultural awareness Gómez-Rodríguez, 2018; Lee, 1999; Marden, 2007; Wang,
2018
practice/improvement in four skills Bahrani & Sim, 2012; Barella & Linarsih, 2020;
Chavangklang et al., 2019; Khorsheed & Rassoul, 2018; Lee,
2014; Liunokas, 2016; Morrison, 1989; Onoda, 1994; Rozak
et al., 2021; Tasya, et al., 2018
improvement in critical literacy/thinking Abduazizova et al., 2021; Al-Shaye, 2021; Bury, 2015; Jeong,
2012; Lestari & Mutia, 2023; Park, 2011; Sibanda, 2021;
Walters, 2017
authentic language input Bahrani & Sim, 2012; Bahrani et al., 2014
content diversity Alexander & Cunningham, 2004; Minns, 2021
Disadvantages
linguistic complexity Berardo, 2006; Lesmy et al., 2019; Wiredu, 2012
content bias and inaccuracy Kim & Grabe, 2022; McCracken, 2011; Shultziner &
Stukalin, 2021
limited interactivity Clifford, 1998; Seelig, 2008
time-consumption Dincer, 2020; Ekstrand et al., 2020
accessibility and technology dependency Lai et al., 2018; LeLoup & Ponterio, 2004
information overload Feroz et al., 2022; Mrah & Tizaoui, 2018
digital distraction Leithner, 2009; Nge et al., 2012
privacy concern González-Bailón, & Xenos, 2023; McWhorter & Bennett,
2020; Swart, 2023

The present exploratory study found eight advantages and eight disadvantages
of online news in language education. Online news provides students with real-time
information reflecting real-world language usage, helping students to understand current
events and conversational language (Aayeshah, 2012; Abdurakhmanov, 2023; Oura,
2001). For instance, the floods caused by Hurricane Daniel in the east of Libya in

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September 2023 (Figure 1) are one of the recent news stories the international press
covers. Learners might be informed about such current events through online news.

Figure 1
An example of real-world context (https://www.euronews.com/embed/2368514)

Online news was also found to improve vocabulary, as indicated in previous

studies (Abeyweera, 2021; Bahrani & Sim, 2012; Chavangklang et al., 2019; Dang &
Long, 2023; Katemba & Parilia, 2020; Munawarah et al., 2020; Rohmatillah, 2016;
Shakibaei et al., 2019; Shamim et al., 2023; Singh, 2022; Sultana & Taghavi et al.,
2012; Teng, 2015; Tran, 2023; Wijajanti, 2020; Zhang & Milton, 2022). News articles
often contain a wide variety of vocabulary, which introduces learners to new terms and
phrases, assisting them in building vocabulary, like specific vocabulary items or phrases
in news headlines or articles (Figure 2), such as “gruta” in Spanish, meaning “grotto” in
English. As Table 1 illustrates, the impact of (online) news on vocabulary learning was
the most researched linguistic aspect.

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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

Figure 2
An example of specific vocabulary item in Spanish
(https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2023/09/12/64ff9b29e4d4d862098b45b4.html)

Additionally, news articles provide examples of complex sentence structure and

diverse grammar usage, enabling students to enhance their knowledge of syntax (Omar
et al., 2018; Özkan, 2015; Khodabandeh & Tharirian, 2020; Taqiyyah & Aswir, 2022).
For example, the relative pronoun “qui” (meaning who/that) in French (Figure 3) might
be learned through online news stories.

Figure 3
An example of a complex grammatical feature in French
(https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2023/09/12/dans-les-landes-les-derniers-vestiges-de-l-
extraction-du-petrole-en-france_6188946_3234.html)

Previous studies also showed that online news might promote cultural awareness
(Lee, 1999; Marden, 2007; Gómez-Rodríguez, 2018; Wang, 2018). Reading different
kinds of news from diverse places and cultures introduces learners to different ways of
looking at things, giving them a better understanding of different cultures and helping
them become more culturally aware and able to relate to people from different cultures.
To illustrate, the news story displayed in Figure 4 might allow learners to be informed

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about the Sámi people and their endeavors to uphold their traditions. Regular exposure
to such news might increase intercultural awareness and cultural knowledge.

Figure 4
An example of a news story for cultural understanding
(https://www.euronews.com/embed/2361890)

It was also determined that online news might contribute to the enhancement of
four language skills (Bahrani & Sim, 2012; Barella & Linarsih, 2020; Chavangklang et
al., 2019; Khorsheed & Rassoul, 2018; Lee, 2014; Liunokas, 2016; Morrison, 1989;
Onoda, 1994; Rozak et al., 2021; Tasya et al., 2018 ). Traditionally, online news
involves textually rich content (i.e., authentic input) that might be utilized for reading
and writing. Besides that, multimedia news platforms typically contain audio and video
segments, allowing learners to hone their listening skills and improve their language
skills. For instance, some news websites also include audio versions of the news articles,
as seen in Figure 5.

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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

Figure 5
An example of a news article in audio format (https://www.npr.org/sections/health-
shots/2023/09/12/1197874002/umami-savory-taste-history)

Critical literacy and thinking skills are the seventh potential benefit that online
news might provide (Abduazizova et al., 2021; Al-Shaye, 2021; Bury, 2015; Jeong,
2012; Lestari & Mutia, 2023; Park, 2011; Sibanda, 2021; Walters, 2017). Analyzing
news articles necessitates critical thinking, which assists students in developing
analytical and evaluation abilities. Critical thinking involves the active and skillful
formulation, application, analysis, synthesis, or evaluation of information derived from
or produced by observations, experience, contemplation, thought, or communication as
a basis for conviction and action (Elder & Paul, 2003). On the other hand, critical
literacy is an intellectual skill that involves the exploration and investigation of concepts
and necessitates the synthesis, analysis, interpretation, assessment, and response to texts
read or listened to (Avila & Moore, 2012). The forums or opinion segments in online
news websites might be a good platform for improving these skills. For example, food
insecurity (Figure 6) as a global issue might be analyzed and evaluated in an in-class
discussion, where learners must think critically to respond well to the possible
arguments.

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Figure 6
An example of a news story for promoting critical literacy/thinking skills
(https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/9/4/feeding-big-agribusiness-starving-africans)

The systematic literature review also indicated that online news might offer rich,
authentic language use (Bahrani & Sim, 2012; Bahrani et al., 2014). Professional
journalists produce news articles and provide examples of authentic language use, which
can enhance language skills. For instance, learners might practice some tense aspects in
German, as they are used in the language (Figure 7).

Figure 7
An example of authentic language use in German (https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/panorama/venedig-
tourismus-gebuehrensystem-100.html)

Ultimately, online news platforms might offer rich content diversity for language
learners (Alexander & Cunningham, 2004; Minns, 2021). Most online news websites
have sections such as politics, economy, culture, travel, and health, etc., which might
cater to different learners’ interests in terms of content.

On the other hand, online news websites impose some limitations on learners.
Initially, previous research demonstrated that news articles might involve linguistically
complex structures (Berardo, 2006; Lesmy et al., 2019; Wiredu, 2012). That means that
news articles can be challenging to read due to their intricate language, slang, and
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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

cultural associations, which can be intimidating for beginning-level readers. For

instance, words such as “persecution, wade into, and meddle” in the following article
(Figure 8) might be difficult for beginning, even intermediate-level learners. The word
frequencies were cited as 3/5, 2/5, and 2/5 for these words in the Collins online
dictionary (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/). That justifies why some learners might
struggle to understand words with low frequency.

Figure 8
An example of a news article with linguistic complexity
(https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/world/europe/putin-trump-musk.html)

Another drawback of online news is the potential source/content bias and

inaccuracy (Kim & Grabe, 2022; McCracken, 2011; Shultziner & Stukalin, 2021). It,
therefore, becomes critical to provide learners with the necessary media literacy skills
to ensure that they are aware of the potential biases and inaccuracies in online news
sources. To illustrate, Figure 9 shows how the same piece of news might be interpreted
differently across diverse media platforms.

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Figure 9
An example of biased news headlines in different media outlets
(https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/08/03/158068749/same-news-different-spins-check-
these-headlines-about-the-jobs-report)

A third disadvantage of online news might be the limited interactivity compared

to interactive learning activities (Clifford, 1998; Seelig, 2008). Therefore, passive
reading of news articles might not be as engaging as interactive activities. However,
some news websites have online comment sections wherein users interact with each
other on a topic of discussion. Additionally, practicing news articles might be time-
consuming for learners and teachers (Dincer, 2020; Ekstrand et al., 2020). In other
words, analyzing and digesting news articles can take up a significant amount of time,
which may interfere with other language-related activities. For teachers, on the other
hand, preparing lessons using news articles might occupy a good amount of their time.
As in any other online platform, reading or practicing with online news might be
technology-dependent, meaning learners might experience access problems (Lai et al.,
2018; LeLoup & Ponterio, 2004). Other potential setbacks for using online news were
cited as information overload (Feroz et al., 2022; Mrah & Tizaoui, 2018), digital
distraction (Leithner, 2009; Nge et al., 2012), and privacy concerns (González-Bailón,
& Xenos, 2023; McWhorter & Bennett, 2020; Swart, 2023).

In sum, findings revealed that vocabulary expansion and improvement in four

language skills were the two most researched areas among the advantages of online
news. However, content diversity, authentic language input, and heightened cultural
awareness were cited the least. The systematic literature review findings also indicated
a general scantiness in researching the disadvantages of online news in language
education. All these findings suggest that more research (of quantitative and qualitative
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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

nature) is essential to reveal more about the potential of online news and deepen our
understanding of the concept. Findings also indicated the areas where prospective
studies should be conducted.

How to Effectively Incorporate Online News in Teaching

Considering the possible advantages/disadvantages and abundant news websites, it

might be daunting for language learners and teachers to select appropriate news articles.
Therefore, the following framework (adapted from various resources, such as Farmer,
2008) for choosing news articles might be utilized.

Figure 10
A guideline for news article selection in language education

Thematic appropriateness

Generative Thematic
prospect appeal

Linguistic
Text length
content

The first criterion in this guideline refers to the extent of suitability of topics in
news articles. For instance, a teacher might ask, “Could this article be offensive to some
students?” or “Is it appropriate for learners’ age?” Related to the first one, the second
criterion concerns how an article appeals to learners. In this regard, a teacher might ask,
“Is this topic interesting for my students?” Text length is the third criterion to use when
selecting articles. Teachers should avoid using long articles, which may contain
complex language structures and take time to do in classrooms. In this sense, a teacher
might ask, “Is the text too long?” or “Can I complete the activities of this text in a given
time period?” Another essential criterion to consider is how much helpful information
(e.g., practical vocabulary and grammar items) is contained in news articles. Before

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choosing a news article, a teacher should ask, “Are there good language structures that
my learners can benefit from?” or “Are there too many unfamiliar words in the text?”
Ultimately, the generative potential of news articles is the final criterion. It refers to how
much a specific news article allows follow-up activities, such as discussions and role-
plays. In this regard, a teacher might ask, “Does this article offer generative prospect?”.
Using this cyclic guideline, language learners and teachers might benefit from news
articles for various purposes in language education.

Available News Websites Optimal for Language Learning

Following the provision of the guideline, it would be essential to recommend some

online news sources for diverse linguistic needs. Several digital news sites already offer
learning sections, some of which are BBC Learning English
(https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish), The New York Times Learning Network
(https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning), Voice of America (VOA) Learning
English (https://learningenglish.voanews.com/), Learning English with CBC
(https://www.cbc.ca/learning-english), Al Jazeera Learning Arabic
(https://learning.aljazeera.net/ar), Deutsche Well (DW) Learn German
(www.dw.com/en/learn-german/s-2469), and BBC Languages
(https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/index.shtml) for about 40 languages. Additionally,
the News in Levels (https://www.newsinlevels.com/) website sequel offers international
news in three levels and five languages, including Spanish in Levels
(https://spanishinlevels.com/), French in Levels (https://frenchinlevels.com/), German
in Levels (https://germaninlevels.com/), Chinese in Levels
(https://chineseinlevels.com/), and Indonesian in Levels
(https://www.beritabahasainggris.id/).

In addition to these websites, others can be cited here for various purposes. First,
the “news in slow” series offers world news in three levels and four languages, including
News in Slow Spanish (https://www.newsinslowspanish.com/), News in Slow French
(https://www.newsinslowfrench.com/), News in Slow German
(https://www.newsinslowgerman.com/), and News in Slow Italian
(https://www.newsinslowitalian.com/). Harboring great potential for listening and
pronunciation practice, these websites also contain grammar/expressions and series

17
 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

sections as additional language resources. Similarly, the metro website

(https://www.readmetro.com/en/) allows users to access digital news in six languages,
including Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and French, across 13
countries. This website might be an excellent opportunity to access daily news from
different countries and learn about current events and local cultures. With its unique and
vivid website, Le Monde Diplomatique (https://mondediplo.com/) might offer a lot for
reading, vocabulary, and listening skills in English and French. The Times in Plain
English (https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/) can be a good opportunity for
learners with lower proficiency levels since the news reports are explained in simple
English. Learners interested in the American lifestyle might visit This American Life’s
website (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/) and access great articles about American
life in text and audio formats. The following websites can be a great source of listening,
pronunciation, and speaking practice for English language learners: National Public
Radio (NPR) (https://www.npr.org/), The Guardian Long Read
(https://soundcloud.com/theguardianlongread), The New York Times Times Minute
(https://www.nytimes.com/video/the-new-york-times-minute), and BBC Global News
Podcast (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nq0gn/episodes/downloads).

All in all, this section summarized the research-based advantages and

disadvantages of online news in language education. A framework for news article
selection was provided for language learners and teachers who struggle to find
appropriate news reports. Ultimately, a list of news websites was presented, those with
already learning sections and those with other good features for language learning.

Conclusions and Recommendations

This exploratory research reviewed the relevant literature on the impacts of online news
on language learning and teaching. The systematic literature review revealed eight
categories as advantages (real-world context, vocabulary expansion,
grammatical/syntactical practice, heightened cultural awareness, practice/improvement
in four skills, authentic language input, and content diversity) and disadvantages
(linguistic complexity, content bias, and inaccuracy, limited interactivity, time
consumption, accessibility, and technology dependency, information overload, digital

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The Literacy Trek

distraction, and privacy concern). Most studies focused on the impact of online news on
vocabulary expansion and practice/improvement in four skills. However, pronunciation,
speaking, and writing were the most minor studied language areas under the four skills.
This means that further research might tackle the effect of online news on these
linguistic aspects. The potential pitfalls of online news cited in this study were generally
understudied in the literature. The studies revealing the advantages of online news
outnumbered those indicating the disadvantages. However, this should not be
misinterpreted. Online news articles and websites should be approached attentively.
Therefore, the present study offered a practical guideline comprising five steps
(thematic appropriateness, thematic appeal, text length, linguistic content, and
generative prospect). In conjunction with this, numerous news websites were
recommended for language learners and teachers of various languages. These websites
might be handy for several language skills, such as reading, vocabulary, listening,
pronunciation, etc. Also, some (e.g., News in Levels and News in Slow series) offer
global news in three language levels across diverse languages. Additionally, all the
suggested websites, some in particular (e.g., This American Life and Le Monde
Diplomatique), can be used to raise learners’ intercultural awareness and cultural
knowledge. Referring to content diversity as one of the benefits of online news websites,
the numerous sections (e.g., politics, sport, travel, work life, technology, and culture)
available on these websites might rivet learners with diverse interests.

On the other hand, this study recognizes several limitations, the first being
methodological. Exploratory research does not yield conclusive results, yet it is essential
because it is challenging to conduct. The findings of this study should not, therefore, be
interpreted conclusively. However, the strengths and weaknesses of online news
presented in this study were cited from previous research in the relevant field. They,
therefore, are research-based findings that should be approached attentively. Another
limitation might be focusing on specific languages, including English, Spanish, French,
German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, and Indonesian. The
recommended websites were not distributed equally between these languages but
centered mainly around English. This limitation might be ignored because the present
study did not primarily focus on the abovementioned languages. It can also be

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 Leveraging online news for language learning across diverse educational contexts

overlooked because the availability of websites that are primarily in English can be
understood, considering the global dominance of English.

In considering these, several recommendations can be made for prospective

research. First, future studies might review specific news websites to discover their
language-learning potential. Second, qualitative studies can be conducted to explore the
views of learners from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds on using news
websites. A third might be a quasi-experimental or mixed-method study aiming to
examine the impact of certain websites or news articles on improving specific language
skills, particularly pronunciation, writing, and speaking. A fourth recommendation
might be conducting case studies with learners from diverse linguistic/cultural
backgrounds across different contexts. In addition, more studies might be undertaken to
explore the influence of online news on increasing intercultural awareness and acquiring
cultural knowledge. This study concludes that online news articles/websites can be a
valuable source of multilingual/multicultural learning and practice.

Ethics Committee Permission Information

Ethical approval is not applicable because this article does not contain any studies with
human or animal subjects.

Acknowledgment

I extend my deepest gratitude to the blind reviewers and language editors for their
invaluable comments that helped improve the quality and clarity of this research.

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