A1: FACEBOOK FOR LEARNING FOREIGN WRITING
I apologize for this rather quickly built and simple project, but I thought about the value of asynchronous collaborative tools for English writing after I saw “Mobile collaboration” project (thank you, Vithu and Robyn!) a week ago, so I utilized what was available.
My idea is that any asynchronous collaborative tool that allows commenting can be successfully used by adults to learn a foreign language writing individually, in a comfortable informal space.
The choice of this asynchronous collaborative tool is on the adult learner, and the focus is on their activities (not the online audience’s reaction to them) based on the principle “The more we write, the better we write” within the behaviouristic approach to learning a foreign language. I have taught English as a foreign language to adults for many years, and therefore, they are my ideal audience.
Last week I asked my 28-year-old Ukrainian Canadian acquaintance who is currently studying English on her own if she uses her Facebook for English writing. She was surprised by my question and answered negatively.
But Facebook as well as other popular social platforms is so easily assessable to millions of people as potential receivers of a written message. It is plain wrong to neglect such a brilliant opportunity of presenting your foreign-language writing to the world.
Regarding online learning, I share the opinion of Fischer (2014) who states that “people get involved in activities when those activities are personally meaningful and rewarding (e. g. creating an interesting artifact, framing and solving an interesting problem, learning about something they find exciting, or earning a qualification or enhanced reputation)” (p. 152).
It will definitely be a bit uncomfortable at first to explore the world of another language on social media. But it can also become quite addictive and very-very rewarding from linguistic and social points of view.
Thank you very much for reading and please share your ideas and concerns below. Constructive criticism is a blessing and I look forward to it!
Hi Anna,
Fantastic presentation, I really enjoyed making my way through it. I am also a language teacher so much of what you talk about really resonates. Using social media has been a particularly strong trend in language learning and I love trying to find way to incorporate social media platforms into project-based language learning activities. I’ve seen presentations about using FB, Twitter, TikToc, and Instagram to name just a few. You are so correct that studying a foreign language can be much more effective if there is a personal and meaningful connection to the materials and FB is an excellent way of providing this. As you demonstrate, there are unlimited topics and groups that should have something interesting for everyone. The opportunity to provide writing exchanges in a natural context is valuable and because it is rather informal, students may not feel the same kind of pressures if they were trying to produce written work in a more formal or academic setting. FB provides a safer and more natural environment for students to learn and express themselves while also giving them the chance to connect with others that may share similar interests! Thank you so much Anna!
Thank you so much for your positive comment, Louisa! I believe the real strength of social media is in the fact that they belong to pleasure more than to studies. Adults are pretty conservative in their free-time habits, so I can only hope to direct them toward a more practical approach of “media-for-language-learning” in our informal conversations. But once these learners start using their favourite platform or community for their foreign-language writing too, they won’t be able to stop. I have witnessed it so many times, and it made me really happy. A piece of professional advice at the right moment goes a long way. I am in many FB groups, and whenever the conversation brings up learning English, I provide my two cents. As you said, less pressure plus a familiar and friendly environment can turn social media into the foreign language teachers’ best friends!
This is lovely! Very well done, and you are absolutely correct that FB is a good way to experience they way native speakers use the language! I do see there being one small problem, in that typed social media posts often contain abbreviated terms, and those that evolve rapidly, perhaps more rapidly than most people could learn the language. Internet abbreviations are used extensively and often require being previously introduced and “translated”. Native English speakers often mess up the text lingo. For instance, I remember reading a text conversation where a mother was telling her adult children that a family member had died, and kept using the LOL text throughout. It turns out that she was not actually laughing out loud, she was saying “lots of love”; so if English speakers get confused, I can’t imagine how difficult it could get for English language learners.
You’re absolutely right, my dear colleague: while English Facebook can be considered a closed mini-system of education where you take a language sample and start using it, it is better to consult textbooks, dictionaries, and other reliable resources too to be sure of what you repeat on social media. Regarding abbreviations, well, I once was a FB moderator in an English-speaking group. When admins first invited me to their private chat to discuss organizational issues, I thought the language they were using was not English. Still, in a couple of months, I became comfortable with all those ttyl, bc, idk, lmk, brb, etc. I don’t think abbreviations are the biggest problem. I believe it’s a lack of time and energy: immigrants these days are often too tired when they are on Facebook to write anything in a foreign language. But I will keep pushing them because everyone understands English is important in Canada!