Language Through Trends: Using Social Media in Class
Ah, the ever-evolving world of social media, a realm where trends emerge faster than you can say “TikTok challenge”… Unless you don’t use TikTok, like yours truly (I’m a Millennial, I watch TikTok via Instagram). Recently I’ve taken part in a great workshop on social media and that gave me an idea on social media in our classrooms. (It also gave me other ideas, so you’ll probably see the changes on my Instagram sooner than later),
Usually we view social platforms as distractions, but why not harness their power and enhance our EFL classes? After all, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em – and make ’em do homework!
Mwahahahaha! THAT is evil!
Behold my simple ideas on how you can use various social media platforms to boost your students’ engagement and prove that ability to use a foreign language is a really useful skill. Please note that the activities may be quite age-relevant (15 year old kids may not be into Linkedin).
Facebook: The Digital Classroom Extension
Create a private Facebook group for your class. Ask students to share articles, videos or memes related to the current lesson. Encourage them to comment in English. This will foster a sense of community and continuous learning outside the classroom. Plus, it’s a sneaky way to get them to practice writing without the dreaded “essay” label.
Instagram Stories: Daily Vocabulary Boost
Challenge your students to post daily Instagram Stories with a new word they’ve learnt. They can snap a photo that represents the word and add a caption explaining it. This reinforces their learning, and may help impress others with their knowledge. What’s more, they’ll be able to get more followers from another countries!
Pinterest Boards: Curate and Share
Ask your students to create Pinterest boards on specific themes, such as “British Culture” or “Idioms and Expressions.” They can pin articles, images, and videos, and write brief descriptions in English. It’s like scrapbooking, but without the glue sticks and paper cuts. And it stays longer!
TikTok Challenges: Act It Out
Engage your students to create short videos acting out scenes from English literature, demonstrating idioms, or maybe performing grammar skits. It’s a fun way to get them speaking and thinking creatively. And hopefully they will (NOT) become viral!
LinkedIn Profiles: Professional Development
That’s a great platform for your adult students. Guide them in creating LinkedIn profiles in English. They can list their skills, write a summary etc. This not only improves their writing skills but also prepares them for the professional world. Plus, it’s a great excuse to discuss the importance of a professional online presence – no weird selfies here!
YouTube Playlists: Listening and Discussion
Create a YouTube playlist of short videos on a particular topic. Ask students to watch and then discuss or present their thoughts in class. This enhances listening skills and provides a springboard for discussion. Just don’t forget about the occasional cat video.
Blogging Platforms: Publish and Reflect
Encourage students to start a blog on platforms like WordPress. They can write about topics of interest, reflect on their learning journey, or even review books and movies. Regular writing practice in a public forum can boost their confidence and proficiency. And who knows, they might discover a passion for writing?
By weaving social media into our teaching tapestry, we not only make learning more relatable but also equip our students with the digital literacy skills they need in the modern world. So, let’s embrace the hashtags, likes, and shares, and turn them into tools for linguistic fun. Remember, in the words of a wise (and slightly evil) educator: if you’re going to procrastinate online, you might as well do it in English!
Happy teaching!
