First of all, facebook is a site commonly used by teenagers and young adults (as well as myspace) and students would be more than happy to use a site like this one and have their own webpage. For instance, when I made a project with seven graders, I was surpriced when everyone was talking about their myspaces,,, first I though that that could be dangerous, but since it is something inevitable, I better believe that it can have great results when using it to learn the second language. Like sussane says, class projects, class interactions, etc could work well in facebook. Of course we as teachers would first have to create a group, is that right? I'm not an expert in facebook, so any tips anyone could give me, I would really appreciate it...! -Liliana R.
How could facebook be used in second language learning? Class projects? Class interaction? Study abroad?
I think facebook can be a great tool for L2 learning, especially because students can be able to form networks that can link them closer to the target culture. Making and joining groups related to the L2 culture and issues are great ways to stay informed and keep connected with the developments happening in those areas. For class projects, students can actually connect with people in other countries. For example, I will teach Spanish, and let's say I wanted my students to research more about a certain political issue or problem in another country: one possible application of facebook would be that my students can interview, or ask questions to somebody actually living in that country. It's not the same as spoken language, but they do gain something by actually getting a genuine opinion or clarification from a native. For class interaction, having a classroom facebook page can allow us to ask each other questions related to the class, and thus students can figure out things on their own. Finally, facebook has groups for countries, and endless other things. Students can start to see where they would like to study abroad... or if they do study abroad, they can upload their photos and share their experiences this way.
While I wouldn't expect FB to be included in a class curriculum, I do think it has its advantages when it comes to learning a new language. As mentioned above, it can be used for its original purpose, which is social networking. Students, if motivated, can search out people who speak the target language and communicate with them. Another useful aspect of FB are the organizations promoted on FB. They can provide students with cultural knowledge. Students can "become fans" of media organizations, cultural organizations, bands, entertainment profiles, etc... all related to the target culture. Not only would students learn more about the culture in this way, but might also have the opportunity to access literature and video stream in the target language. These groups would provide a good setting to meet people who speak the target language. FB is a good place to find info about study abroad because so many people post pictures from their trips. Potential study abroad students might have access to these pictures, especially when there is a group dedicated to a specific study abroad program. As far as class interaction and class projects, again, I refer to groups. A group like our 487 Group is useful to communicate with other students in the class. We might feel more comfortable in this informal, yet impersonal setting. I do not think it should be expected that all students have a FB account, though, so the class groups should not be something to count on when designing the class.
I think one of the main considerations of using Facebook to teach a 2nd language is that facebook comes in different languages. This could be beneficial, since the 2D mapping out of the facebook page would be the same in all languages (ie providing for a literal translation of sorts). This would be similar to a fantasy situation: What if two cities, Chicago and Paris, for example, were to have the exact same street plan? There would be different names on the streets in each city, different smells coming from different restaurants and bakeries, and different languages in the advertisements on the bilboards, but there would be a sort of collective consciousness of the geography, a universal theme. Comparable to Jung's collective unconscious, I would call Facebook phenomenon a "Collective Superconscious", invoking Jung's theory, the word "Super" ( a modern, fluffy buzz word with deepest meaning in Ad copy as an ejaculation of sorts), and the word superficial.
The log-in box, the wall, the profile image, all of these things transcend language, and would provide a means for literal translation of spacial relationships of different isolated words/chunks/functions...
First of all, facebook is a site commonly used by teenagers and young adults (as well as myspace) and students would be more than happy to use a site like this one and have their own webpage. For instance, when I made a project with seven graders, I was surpriced when everyone was talking about their myspaces,,, first I though that that could be dangerous, but since it is something inevitable, I better believe that it can have great results when using it to learn the second language.
ReplyDeleteLike sussane says, class projects, class interactions, etc could work well in facebook.
Of course we as teachers would first have to create a group, is that right? I'm not an expert in facebook, so any tips anyone could give me, I would really appreciate it...!
-Liliana R.
How could facebook be used in second language learning? Class projects? Class interaction? Study abroad?
ReplyDeleteI think facebook can be a great tool for L2 learning, especially because students can be able to form networks that can link them closer to the target culture. Making and joining groups related to the L2 culture and issues are great ways to stay informed and keep connected with the developments happening in those areas.
For class projects, students can actually connect with people in other countries. For example, I will teach Spanish, and let's say I wanted my students to research more about a certain political issue or problem in another country: one possible application of facebook would be that my students can interview, or ask questions to somebody actually living in that country. It's not the same as spoken language, but they do gain something by actually getting a genuine opinion or clarification from a native.
For class interaction, having a classroom facebook page can allow us to ask each other questions related to the class, and thus students can figure out things on their own.
Finally, facebook has groups for countries, and endless other things. Students can start to see where they would like to study abroad... or if they do study abroad, they can upload their photos and share their experiences this way.
While I wouldn't expect FB to be included in a class curriculum, I do think it has its advantages when it comes to learning a new language.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned above, it can be used for its original purpose, which is social networking. Students, if motivated, can search out people who speak the target language and communicate with them. Another useful aspect of FB are the organizations promoted on FB. They can provide students with cultural knowledge. Students can "become fans" of media organizations, cultural organizations, bands, entertainment profiles, etc... all related to the target culture. Not only would students learn more about the culture in this way, but might also have the opportunity to access literature and video stream in the target language. These groups would provide a good setting to meet people who speak the target language.
FB is a good place to find info about study abroad because so many people post pictures from their trips. Potential study abroad students might have access to these pictures, especially when there is a group dedicated to a specific study abroad program.
As far as class interaction and class projects, again, I refer to groups. A group like our 487 Group is useful to communicate with other students in the class. We might feel more comfortable in this informal, yet impersonal setting. I do not think it should be expected that all students have a FB account, though, so the class groups should not be something to count on when designing the class.
I think one of the main considerations of using Facebook to teach a 2nd language is that facebook comes in different languages. This could be beneficial, since the 2D mapping out of the facebook page would be the same in all languages (ie providing for a literal translation of sorts). This would be similar to a fantasy situation: What if two cities, Chicago and Paris, for example, were to have the exact same street plan? There would be different names on the streets in each city, different smells coming from different restaurants and bakeries, and different languages in the advertisements on the bilboards, but there would be a sort of collective consciousness of the geography, a universal theme. Comparable to Jung's collective unconscious, I would call Facebook phenomenon a "Collective Superconscious", invoking Jung's theory, the word "Super" ( a modern, fluffy buzz word with deepest meaning in Ad copy as an ejaculation of sorts), and the word superficial.
ReplyDeleteThe log-in box, the wall, the profile image, all of these things transcend language, and would provide a means for literal translation of spacial relationships of different isolated words/chunks/functions...