Social Media Language Learning

The Social Media Language Learning (SMLL) consists in applying interactive social media channels to language learning, which will in turn enable the student to develop communication skills while using these social networks.

It provides the learner with the possibility of participating in actual, real-time, relevant conversations taking place online, and practicing the target language with the help of an experienced teacher by his or her side.

The Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) method provided the basis for the development of the SMLL method, given both emphasise the importance of teaching within a great scope of contexts with the objective of developing a functional knowledge of the language. Perfect grammar and pronunciation are not essential to the process, rather setting the focus on the communicative competence of the student and the ability to understand and make him/herself understood.

The Social Media Language Learning is based upon three tenants:

1. Importance of live and actual communication in the target language through interaction and updated content comprehension and production based on Social Media channels.

2. Students’ personal experience and interests play a defining role in learning, enabling relevant usage of language during and between classes with active participation of teacher and virtual community.

3. Fostering of social media communication skills at the same time as the language learning is taking place, in terms of editing, strategy, conceptualization, business insight, etc.

The student is therefore invited to emerge as much as possible in activities which require the use of language, given that all of them will result in learning. In-class and out-of-class communication are equally important. It combines the benefits of another method, known as Blended Learning, which allows the student to learn autonomously, whenever and wherever he wants, with all the required material available online, and at the same time have the support of an experienced teacher who eases the process and provides a professional and live explanation of the subjects at hand.

On-site classes with the teacher are intertwined with the ongoing online conversations with other relevant people. Learning is considered to be a constant, ever-flowing, indivisible part of everyday life, thus making the target language a part of it. The method was originally created by a language school from Barcelona, Spain.