THE ROLE OF WATTPAD AS A SUPPORTING PLATFORM FOR ENCHANCHING EFL STUDENT READING SKILL

Abstrak

Reading is a fundamental skill in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning; however, many EFL university students still experience low reading motivation, limited engagement, and insufficient exposure to English texts. Recently, digital reading platforms have gained attention as alternative resources to support reading development, including Wattpad. This study aims to synthesize recent literature on the use of Wattpad as a supporting platform for developing EFL students’ reading skills.This study employed a narrative thematic literature review by analyzing fifteen peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2021 and 2024. The selected studies were thematically analyzed to identify patterns, similarities, and differences related to the use of Wattpad in EFL reading contexts, focusing on reading motivation, reader engagement, reading frequency, vocabulary development, and pedagogical challenges.The findings indicate that Wattpad has the potential to enhance students’ motivation, engagement, and exposure to authentic texts when integrated with structured pedagogical guidance. However, without clear instructional objectives and supervision, its effectiveness may be limited. This review concludes that Wattpad can function effectively as a supplementary digital reading platform in EFL higher education.