The Influence of Tv Show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Toward English As Foreign Language (EFL) Students’ Speaking Skill
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Published:
Apr 9, 2026
Keywords:
EFL Students, Speaking Skills, FRIENDS TV Program.
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Abstract
This study looks at how Friends, a television program, affects English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' speaking abilities. The study uses qualitative analysis to show how regular comedy viewing improves spoken English confidence, vocabulary, pronunciation, and fluency. Friends offers an immersive learning experience that bridges the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application through its organic dialogues, colloquial language, and cultural situations. The main conclusions show that learners' oral ability is greatly enhanced by imitation strategies such mimicking the speech patterns of actors. The program also lessens speaking fear and promotes cultural knowledge. The study highlights the advantages of integrating real audio-visual materials, but it also points out drawbacks, like the necessity of choosing specific episodes to support learning objectives. The results support the thoughtful inclusion of TV shows.
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References
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Bakhtiar, M. R., & Suwandi, S. (2022). The Psychological Factors Impacts on the Students’ Speaking Skill. English Education Journal, 12(3), 356-363. https://doi.org/10.15294/eej.v12i3.58338
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Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
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Harmer, J. (2007). The Practice of English Language Teaching (4th ed.). Pearson Longman.
How 'Friends' Helps People Around The World Learn English. (2021, May 31). Forbes India. https://www.forbesindia.com/article/global-news/how-friends-helps-people-around-the-world-learn-english/68245/1
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Jezhny, K. A., & Bapir, N. S. M. (2021). University Learners' Perspective towards Factors Affecting the Speaking Skill. Cihan University-Erbil Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(1), 25-31. https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v5n1y2021.pp25-31
Leonita, L. (2023). Speaking Skill in 21st-Century: Students’ Perceptions and Challenges in English Language Teaching. Premise: Journal of English Education and Applied Linguistics, 12(1), 1-15. https://ojs.fkip.ummetro.ac.id/index.php/english/article/view/7262
Liu, Y. (2023). An Analysis on the Use of TV Series- Friends as an Audiovisual Aid in English Vocabulary Teaching and Learning. Communications in Humanities Research, 10, 174–182. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7064/10/20231307
Mingboyeva, S. J. Q., & Iskandarova, D. K. K. (2025). The Role of TV Shows and Movies to Improve Speaking Skills. PEDAGOGS, 78(1), 40–44. https://scientific-jl.com/ped/article/view/5342
Mudawe, N. (2021). Enhancing EFL Students’ Cultural Awareness through Friends Sitcom. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 10(1), 1–8. https://www.aiac.org.au/journals/index.php/IJALEL/article/view/6286
Niu, J. (2024). A Study of American TV Series Lines on Improving College Students' English-Speaking Skills. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 77, 97–101. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/2024.18492
Puspitasari, D. (2020). The Influence of Watching Friends TV Series on Students’ Speaking Fluency. Journal of English Language Studies, 5(1), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.30870/jels.v5i1.7468
Sherine, S., et al. (2020). Effects of Using Educational Technology Tools to Enhance EFL Students’ Speaking Performance. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9867990/:contentReference[oaicite:95]{index=95}
Sholikhi, F. (2022). Communication Students’ Anxiety in Speaking Skill Practice. ELT Forum: Journal of English Language Teaching, 11(1), 31-40. https://doi.org/10.15294/elt.v11i1.49533:contentReference[oaicite:92]{index=92}
Sukma, A., & Rochmawati, R. (2020). Problem Based Learning in Teaching Students' Speaking Skill: The Implementation. National Conference on Language, Education, and Technology Proceeding, 1(1), 1-8. https://e-journal.umc.ac.id/index.php/PBI/article/view/4765
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006).
Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018).
Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018).
Research methods in education (8th ed.). Routledge.
Benazir, S. K., & Palpandan, S. T. (2023). Impact of social media on English language learning among undergraduate EFL learners: A narrative literature review. Development in Language Studies, 3(1), 42–49. https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/periodicals/index.php/dils/article/view/13185
Hasyim, N. U., & Tarihoran, N. (2023). The widely common media to teach English: Does YouTube affect students' speaking skills? Indonesian Journal of English Language Studies, 9(1), 1–10. https://e-journal.usd.ac.id/safe/index.php/IJELS/article/view/9049
Khuluod, M. L. (2024). Social media influence on enhancing EFL learners' speaking skills. African Journal of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(1), 119–125. https://aaasjournals.com/index.php/ajashss/article/view/678
Menggo, S., Basir, A., & Halum, Y. (2022). Video-based tasks in strengthening speaking skills of EFL college students. Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 7(2), 279–297. https://doi.org/10.21462/ijefl.v7i2.510
Murad, T., Assadi, J., & Badarni, H. (2023). Digital storytelling and EFL speaking skill improvement. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 14(5), 1006–1015. https://jltr.academypublication.com/index.php/jltr/article/view/6626
Ravindran, L., Ridzuan, I., & Wong, B. E. (2022). The impact of social media on the teaching and learning of EFL speaking skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings, 82(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2022082038
Waode, W. H. (2024). Using TikTok as a media to enhancing speaking skills in English foreign language classroom: A lesson learned from ESP contexts. Journal of Language and Literature Studies, 4(2), 507–515. https://doi.org/10.36312/jolls.v4i2.1951
Ary, D., Jacobs, L. C., Irvine, C. K. S., & Walker, D. (2018). Introduction to Research in Education (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Aziez, F., Nita, A., Istikharoh, L., & Sotlikova, R. (2023). Analyzing the Development of University English Students’ Speaking Fluency. Journal of English and Education (JEE), 10(2). https://doi.org/10.20885/jee.v10i2.36345:contentReference[oaicite:89]{index=89}
Babbie, E. (2020). The Practice of Social Research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Bakhtiar, M. R., & Suwandi, S. (2022). The Psychological Factors Impacts on the Students’ Speaking Skill. English Education Journal, 12(3), 356-363. https://doi.org/10.15294/eej.v12i3.58338
Bui, T. N., & Newton, J. (2021). Systematic Review on Speaking Skill Teaching Approaches in the ESL/EFL Classroom: Before and During Covid-19. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 10(1). https://hrmars.com/index.php/IJARPED/article/view/11677:contentReference[oaicite:98]{index=98}
Bui,T., & Newton, J. (2021). Task-based language teaching with multimedia: Developing EFL learners’ communicative competence. Language learning & Technology, 25(2), 45-62. 10.17161/iallt.v25i2.12456
Council of Europe. (2020). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment – Companion Volume. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing. https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2020/16809ea0d4
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Derakhshan, A., Khalili, A. N., & Beheshti, F. (2016). Developing EFL Learners’ Speaking Ability, Accuracy and Fluency. English Language Teaching, 9(5), 120-129. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v9n5p120
Djanuwarso, K. P., & Deskilasari, P. (2022). The Impact of Continued Watching English Movie Series on Students’ English Capability (Case Study: Peaky Blinder and Friends). JEdu: Journal of English Education, 2(3), 201–208. https://doi.org/10.30998/jedu.v2i3.6973
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
Etikasari, A., Hardiyanti, T., & Susanti, A. (2022). Investigating a Popular Belief: TV Series’ Roles in L2 Learners’ Speaking Fluency. International Journal of Language Education and Applied Linguistics, 12(1), 38–45. https://doi.org/10.15282/ijleal.v12i1.7076
Forbes India. (2021, May 31). How Friends Helps People Around the World Learn English. https://www.forbesindia.com/article/global-news/how-friends-helps-people-around-the-world-learn-english/68245/1
Hadijah, S. (2014). Investigating the Problems of English Speaking of the Students of Islamic Boarding School Program at STAIN Samarinda. Dinamika Ilmu, 14(2), 240-247. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v14i2.16
Harmer, J. (2007). The Practice of English Language Teaching (4th ed.). Pearson Longman.
How 'Friends' Helps People Around The World Learn English. (2021, May 31). Forbes India. https://www.forbesindia.com/article/global-news/how-friends-helps-people-around-the-world-learn-english/68245/1
Ilham, M., Nurwati, A., & Helingo, A. (2024). A Closer Look at Five Components of Speaking Performance in Indonesian EFL Students. Innovative: Journal Of Social Science Research, 4(6), 6685–6697. https://doi.org/10.31004/innovative.v4i6.16024:contentReference[oaicite:86]{index=86}
Jezhny, K. A., & Bapir, N. S. M. (2021). University Learners' Perspective towards Factors Affecting the Speaking Skill. Cihan University-Erbil Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(1), 25-31. https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v5n1y2021.pp25-31
Leonita, L. (2023). Speaking Skill in 21st-Century: Students’ Perceptions and Challenges in English Language Teaching. Premise: Journal of English Education and Applied Linguistics, 12(1), 1-15. https://ojs.fkip.ummetro.ac.id/index.php/english/article/view/7262
Liu, Y. (2023). An Analysis on the Use of TV Series- Friends as an Audiovisual Aid in English Vocabulary Teaching and Learning. Communications in Humanities Research, 10, 174–182. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7064/10/20231307
Mingboyeva, S. J. Q., & Iskandarova, D. K. K. (2025). The Role of TV Shows and Movies to Improve Speaking Skills. PEDAGOGS, 78(1), 40–44. https://scientific-jl.com/ped/article/view/5342
Mudawe, N. (2021). Enhancing EFL Students’ Cultural Awareness through Friends Sitcom. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 10(1), 1–8. https://www.aiac.org.au/journals/index.php/IJALEL/article/view/6286
Niu, J. (2024). A Study of American TV Series Lines on Improving College Students' English-Speaking Skills. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 77, 97–101. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/2024.18492
Puspitasari, D. (2020). The Influence of Watching Friends TV Series on Students’ Speaking Fluency. Journal of English Language Studies, 5(1), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.30870/jels.v5i1.7468
Sherine, S., et al. (2020). Effects of Using Educational Technology Tools to Enhance EFL Students’ Speaking Performance. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9867990/:contentReference[oaicite:95]{index=95}
Sholikhi, F. (2022). Communication Students’ Anxiety in Speaking Skill Practice. ELT Forum: Journal of English Language Teaching, 11(1), 31-40. https://doi.org/10.15294/elt.v11i1.49533:contentReference[oaicite:92]{index=92}
Sukma, A., & Rochmawati, R. (2020). Problem Based Learning in Teaching Students' Speaking Skill: The Implementation. National Conference on Language, Education, and Technology Proceeding, 1(1), 1-8. https://e-journal.umc.ac.id/index.php/PBI/article/view/4765
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006).
Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018).
Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018).
Research methods in education (8th ed.). Routledge.
Benazir, S. K., & Palpandan, S. T. (2023). Impact of social media on English language learning among undergraduate EFL learners: A narrative literature review. Development in Language Studies, 3(1), 42–49. https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/periodicals/index.php/dils/article/view/13185
Hasyim, N. U., & Tarihoran, N. (2023). The widely common media to teach English: Does YouTube affect students' speaking skills? Indonesian Journal of English Language Studies, 9(1), 1–10. https://e-journal.usd.ac.id/safe/index.php/IJELS/article/view/9049
Khuluod, M. L. (2024). Social media influence on enhancing EFL learners' speaking skills. African Journal of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(1), 119–125. https://aaasjournals.com/index.php/ajashss/article/view/678
Menggo, S., Basir, A., & Halum, Y. (2022). Video-based tasks in strengthening speaking skills of EFL college students. Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 7(2), 279–297. https://doi.org/10.21462/ijefl.v7i2.510
Murad, T., Assadi, J., & Badarni, H. (2023). Digital storytelling and EFL speaking skill improvement. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 14(5), 1006–1015. https://jltr.academypublication.com/index.php/jltr/article/view/6626
Ravindran, L., Ridzuan, I., & Wong, B. E. (2022). The impact of social media on the teaching and learning of EFL speaking skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings, 82(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2022082038
Waode, W. H. (2024). Using TikTok as a media to enhancing speaking skills in English foreign language classroom: A lesson learned from ESP contexts. Journal of Language and Literature Studies, 4(2), 507–515. https://doi.org/10.36312/jolls.v4i2.1951