Social Nets and Messengers in Teaching Foreign Languages

Abstract

The article gives a brief review of using social networks and messengers in teaching a foreign language. Social networks and mobile messenger applications have integrated the information and communication technologies of the academic environment, especially when teaching foreign languages. This review of publications that concern practical experience of using social networks and messengers for education purposes showed that they are actively used for teaching foreign languages in secondary schools and universities. Social networks and messengers increase motivation, develop several competencies at the same time, organize education process, facilitate distance learning, and improve the status of the educational institution. However, they are time-consuming, distract attention, and require expensive equipment. Nevertheless, all researchers agree that social networks and instant messengers are convenient technologies that a modern teacher should not ignore.

Keywords

• social networks
• mobile messengers
• information and commun