Abstract:
This paper is a case study that aims to investigate the progress of students’ writing skills after the use of the Facebook Group as an online informal medium of learning. This research was conducted in XI grade vocational school in Pangandaran, West Java. To collect the data, the author observed the students' writing on Facebook Groups and conducted interviews. Interviews aim to validate observational data and to gain students’ perceptions. The researcher found that there was a significant increase in students’ writing skills after using the Facebook Group as an informal medium of learning. The results of this study showed that there is an increase in students' writing skills especially in vocabulary and grammar. In addition, the improvement of students' writing skill is also recognized by students during interviews. Unfortunately, the improvement of writing skills is only applicable to low and middle achievers only. Regarding the use of Facebook Group as a medium of learning, all participants perceived that they like and support the use of Facebook Group as a medium of learning. The students assumed the writing status in English language on Facebook Group is ‘cool’. In addition, students also like the Facebook Group because Group learning makes them motivated to learn. Lastly, students love the Facebook Group as an informal medium of learning because there is no time-limits or space boundaries on its use. In conclusion, the use of Facebook Group as an informal learning media is good for improving students' writing skills especially in grammar and vocabulary and also well-liked by students to be used as a learning medium. In addition, the researcher also suggests for further research to increase the participation of teacher in Facebook Group learning so that high achiever students also get the ability enhancement.
