Moldazhanova A,

                                                                              Ibragimova K

Eurasian National University

                                                                             Kazakhstan, Astana 

                                                                    

  

          Using social networks in foreign language teaching 

Abstract: This article helps to find new ways of teaching the English language. Without doubt, books will remain as the main source of knowledge but why don’t we use social networks in learning as an addition? The results of this research contribute to broadening and systematization of knowledge about the use of non-specialized virtual social networks in the process of teaching a foreign language.

Keywords: language learning social networks

Introduction:

The formation of social networks and online communities is considered to be the greatest achievement of "world wide web". Through the Internet, students have access to wealth of information resources. Social networks in the Internet were originate in the 90s, (and as a professional music community), and the term appeared only in 2004. Nevertheless, the technical specifications - experts agree that social network in the Internet is considered to be the software in the Internet, - allow users to create their own profiles and communicate with other participants in the virtual space. A social network is a social structure made up of a set of social actors (such as individuals or organizations) and a set of the dyadic ties between these actors. The social network provides a set of methods for analyzing the structure of whole social entities as well as a variety of theories explaining the patterns observed in these structures.[1] Current treatment is a certain circle of acquaintances of the people, where the center of a social network is a person. Moreover, a social network in one of the most important elements of modern society, and its impact extends to the various spheres of human life: culture, daily life, education, and government. The using social networks in the learning process of training  is effective means of increasing the motivation and the quality of teaching, so the use of information and communication technologies are the most sought after destinations in the education sector [2]. As part of the social network, communication is possible between several education groups, exchange of materials and results of the project work, etc. In turn, language social networks can be classified by specialization, availability of information and geography. There are lots of sites that allow to learn English. A students can choose any language social network based on their interests and preferences. Then, after passing the test for the user a special training program is. The potential of the language of social networks is great: it can be used not only for individual work, but also at the English lessons. Modern student should be able to independently and actively work with information, to expose its critical assessment and use in accordance with the objectives of the activity

Method:

Recently, there are increasing scientific and educational social networks. Recognized in the field of training and development tool is an American social network  Facebook, the number of users of which is more than 800 million people. On the Facebook platform teachers can create educational courses. Is a learning experience, the need to ensure a real language acquisition possible by means of initiation to the social networks that is to become part of the global community, united by one goal - to learn a foreign language. Having an internship  at the school ¹ 37, in Astana, I conducted a survey at school about social networks. This attended by students of the 10A class. The majority of respondents (66%) were actively using the power of social networks for learning. According to this survey, the most famous student’s platforms are;

-          VKontakte - 46% ,

-         Instagram - 38% 

-         Facebook - 9%

-         Twitter - 4%

-         Others - 3%

In addition, the advantages of using the social space as a training site there are following: familiar environment, the ability to create learning content and collaboration, keeping electronic books, forums and chat rooms. Students can create a page (profile) of the literary hero in the social network, using all the functions offered by the network: pictures, chat, "I like it", links, discussions, etc. The most interesting thing in this process is to try to create a page of a hero’s world that will help to better reveal his character. Follow the latest developments in the lives of celebrities. Many celebrities use "vkontakte". They  can choose a famous person whose activities are related to the topic you are studying.

Conclusion

Teachers and professors who use social networks in teaching foreign language, noted a number of  limitations and difficulties encountered in the process. Among them:lack of netiquette participants, the low level of motivation and information competence of the teacher, a high degree of effort to organize and support training process for teachers, the frequent absence of open access to social Networks of classrooms. However, creative and purposeful work on the removal of these difficulties will significantly enrich the learning process new methods and forms of work, enhance its effectiveness and to implement the principle of personal orientation training.

References

1.      Wikipedia [Jelektronnyj resurs] // URL: http://www.wikipedia.org

2.      Klimenko, O. A. Social'nye seti kak sredstvo obuchenija i vzaimodejstvija uchastnikov obrazovatel'nogo processa [Tekst] / O.A. Klimenko // Teorija i praktika obrazovanija v sovremennom mire: materialy mezhdunar. zaoch. nauch. konf. (g. Sankt-Peterburg, fevral' 2012 g.). – SPb.: Renome, 2012. – S. 405-407

3.      Chto takoe Social'noe PO i zachem ono nuzhno? // URL: http://www.intranetno.ru/faq/social (data obrashhenija 20.11.2013).

4.      Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mark Elliot Zuckerberg.