THE EFFECT OF TIKTOK LIP-SYNC CONTENT ON IMPROVING ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION: FROM ENTERTAINMENT TO EDUCATION

The accelerated growth of social media has repositioned digital platforms as innovative resources for language learning. This study examines the impact of TikTok lip-sync activities on the enhancement of English pronunciation among university-level EFL learners. Adopting a quantitative methodology through a one-group pre-test–post-test experimental design, the research was conducted with 25 fourth-semester students from the English Education Department of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara. Pronunciation performance was measured using assessment instruments focusing on fluency, accuracy, and learners’ confidence. The collected data were processed through descriptive statistical analysis, normality testing, and a paired-sample t-test. The results demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in students’ pronunciation abilities following the implementation of TikTok lip-sync-based instruction. Specifically, the mean score increased markedly from 66.38 in the pre-test to 86.41 in the post-test, with the obtained t-value (28.65) surpassing the critical t-values at both the 0.05 and 0.01 significance levels. These findings confirm that TikTok lip-sync content is an effective pedagogical tool for improving learners’ pronunciation proficiency and self-confidence. Consequently, the study highlights the potential of integrating social media–based instructional strategies to enrich pronunciation teaching in EFL learning environments.