Exploring Users' Experiences of the Auto-Base Feature on @englishfess_: Challenges and Opportunities in Enhancing Vocabulary Acquisition

Abstract

Vocabulary is crucial for effective communication in English, as it underpins skills such as speaking, writing, listening, and reading (Wahjuningsih, 2018; Aminatun & Oktaviani, 2019). With the rise of technology, platforms like X Application (formerly Twitter) have made vocabulary learning more accessible through social media interactions that facilitate knowledge sharing (Arumugam et al., 2020). Auto-base accounts like @englishfess_ offer anonymous forums where users can discuss English learning topics, particularly vocabulary. While previous research has explored the role of X Application in language learning, no studies have specifically focused on users' experiences with the @englishfess_ auto-base especially to enrich users’ vocabulary. This study aims to fill that gap by examining users' experiences and their vocabulary learning through the use of auto-base on X Application. This study employed a descriptive qualitative design to explore participants' experiences with the auto-base feature on the X Application, emphasizing its role in enriching vocabulary. This research is not bound to any particular location, as the study deals with online interaction in the @englishfess_ auto-base account. Participants were selected by a purposive sampling method, considering experience of participants in using the feature for learning English, and were interviewed through semi-structured interviews. These interviews were conducted in Indonesian to ensure clarity and the ability to gain detailed insight into their use of the autobase feature to enrich their vocabulary. Thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke's (2006) framework to identify patterns and themes in the interview data to uncover deeper insights into how the automated baseline features influenced participants' performance in vocabulary acquisition. These findings highlight the participants' experiences with how the @englishfess_ auto-base feature on the X Application enhances vocabulary learning. Four themes emerged from the in-depth interviews with the participants: the users' engagement and satisfaction when they used this site, the process of vocabulary acquisition and retention, user interaction and community building and the last one is technical issue that happened on the site. Subjects described how effective the platform had been in offering practical solutions for their vocabulary challenges and how this had been effective, especially on the menfess feature, where they could send questions to. Both participants appreciated the platform's user-friendly and interactive features. One participant found it helpful for learning new slang and vocabulary from movies and conversations. Another valued how it aided her TOEFL preparation, especially in the reading section, where a strong vocabulary is essential for understanding and accuracy. Both respondents felt that the auto-base feature on @englishfess_ helped them master vocabulary as a supplementary learning resource, albeit with some limitations, such as the limited menfess function as we have to follow back from an account. Changes on X Application by its owner, Elon Musk, in limiting bot-based accounts, have also shrunk the volume of posts, and consequently reduced user interactions. Users therefore embraced the limitations, and despite all these setbacks, they felt the platform contributed a lot to their language learning, especially in their vocabulary comprehension and involvement.