Integrating Social Networking Tools into ESL Writing Classroom: Strengths and Weaknesses

INTRODUCTION

SNSs are platforms to establish social networks/relations among individuals online (Wikipedia, 2010)

Facebook and Twitter popular worldwide

LinkedIn and MySpace popular in North America

RenRen and CY in Asia, Orkut in India

LITERATURE REVIEW

Teachers and Ss need to develop an understanding of digital literacy and integrate technologies into teaching/learning processes (Taranto, Dalbon, Gaetano, 2011)

Constructing Virtuaal classroom via Facebook

Students' online diaries and blogs can be
used to teach writing (Yang, 2008)

following 6 steps suggested by Munoz and
Towner (2009) to create virtual classroom on FB

FB page should be related to classroom and curriculum no other topics (Lenhart & Madden, 2007)

Wikipedia as a discussion forum

Posting book reviews
Writing lesson reflections
Asynchronous discussions
Tests, assignments and quizzes

METHODOLOGY

Research design - qualitative
using online discussion board

Participants - 15 third year TESL
students at a University in Malaysia

researchers posted questions,
participants reacted and answered

Research instrument - 3 open ended questions about integrating SNSs
into ESL writing classrooms

Data Collection - responses in the
discussion board given by participants

Advantages of integrating SNSs
into ESL writing classrooms

Disadvantages of integrating SNSs
into ESL writing classrooms

1.SNSs can engage Ss as
they're very familiar with tech tools

  1. Chronological lessons with
    previous materials visible
  1. Enhancing outside classroom interaction
    and education between teacher and student

4.Increase motivation and confidence

  1. Train students' writing and thinking skills
  1. Help Ss to build and improve vocabulary

1.Not concentrating to learning while
using computer/phone online

2.Informal short forms can affect
students' formal writing

  1. Automatic correction feature of online tools
    can deteriorate learners' spelling skills

4.Lack of communication between T & Ss

  1. Connection problems

6.Easy online copy pasting

  1. It takes time from teachers to design, edit,
    and modify digital learning materials