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Cited by 97English Language Learning and TeachingEducational Technology in LearningEFL/ESL Teaching and Learning

On the attractiveness of social media for language learning: a look at the state of the art

Open access
Zourou, Katerina·2012·Alsic
DOI 10.4000/alsic.2436
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Abstract

This paper sets the stage for the articles selected for the special issue "Language learning and social media: (r)evolution?". Starting with some definitions of mainstream terms like "social media", "web 2.0", "social web", "social networking sites (SNS)" and "web 2.0 language learning communities". The purpose is not to "reinvent the wheel" by suggesting new definitions, but to synthesize definitions of mainstream terms and juxtapose them to similar concepts from CALL literature. We then critically discuss three key features of web 2.0 technologies (user participation, openness and network effects). Despite the fact that these three features were present to some extent in technologies prior to social media, we examine whether they take on a radically different meaning in the social media era. Research insights are discussed in the last section of the paper.

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  • Structured Web 2.0 language learning communities such as busuu, Babbel, and Livemocha typically include language lessons and support for communities of learners.

    “Structured spaces such as busuu (www.busuu.com)Babbel (www.bab- bel.com) and Livemocha (http://livemocha.com)typically include language lessons and support for communities of learners.”

    From Social Media for Informal Minority Language Learning: Exploring Welsh Learners’ Practices (2015) · cites this paper as Zourou (2012)

  • Web 2.0 language learning communities have Web 2.0 technical features but are quite diverse in nature.

    “As Zourou notes, such language learning communities have Web 2.0 technical features but are quite diverse in nature.”

    From Social Media for Informal Minority Language Learning: Exploring Welsh Learners’ Practices (2015) · cites this paper as Zourou (2012)

  • Research into structured Web 2.0 language communities has started, but is not yet well developed.

    “Research into such communities has started, but is not yet well developed.”

    From Social Media for Informal Minority Language Learning: Exploring Welsh Learners’ Practices (2015) · cites this paper as Zourou, 2012

  • Most Web 2.0 language learning communities provide feedback on language learning, some of which is peer feedback.

    “Most provide feedback on language learning, some of which is peer feedback.”

    From Social Media for Informal Minority Language Learning: Exploring Welsh Learners’ Practices (2015) · cites this paper as Zourou (2012)

    Section 2, 'Some preliminary definitions of mainstream terms' (paragraphs 11–12), describes language-learning communities, learner and tutor roles, and language exchange, but does not say that most provide feedback or that any feedback is peer feedback. Searches for 'feedback' and peer correction found no passage in our copy addressing those points. (LLM, conf=0.70)

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 23

  1. Barab, S. A. & Duffy, T. M. (2000). "From practice fields to communities of practice". In Jonassen, D. H. & Land, S. M. (dir.). Theoretical foundations of learning environments. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. pp. 25-55.
  2. Blattner, G., & Fiori, M. (2009). "Facebook in the language classroom: Promises and possibilities". International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, vol. 6, n° 1. http://www.itdl.org/journal/jan_09/article02.htm
  3. Dervin, F., Lamy, M.-N. & Zourou, K. (2012, in press). (dir.). Social networking for language education. Basingstoke : Palgrave Mac Millan.
  4. Donath, J. (1998). "Identity and deception in the virtual community". In Kollock, P. & Smith, M. (dir.). Communities in Cyberspace. London: Routledge.
  5. Harasim, L., Hiltz, S. R., Teles, L. & Turoff, M. (1995). Learning Networks: A field guide to teaching and learning. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  6. Lantolf, J. & Thorne, S. L. (2006). Sociocultural Theory and the Genesis of Second Language Development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  7. Lemke, J. & van Helden, C. (2009). "New Learning Cultures: Identities, Media, and Networks". In Goodfellow, R. & Lamy, M.-N. (dir.). Learning cultures in online education. London: Continuum Books. pp. 151-169.
  8. Loiseau, M., Potolia, A. & Zourou, K. (2011). "Communautés web 2.0 d'apprenants de langue avec parcours d'apprentissage : rôles, pédagogie et rapports au contenu". Actes de la conférence EIAH 2011. pp. 111-123. Available online: http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/index.php?halsid=vm316e35cg3179vc86pa0s9uh6&view_this_doc=hal-00598762&version=2
  9. Lomicka, L. & Blattner, G. (2012). "Facebook-ing and the social generation: a new era for language learning". Apprentissage des langues et systèmes d'information et de communication (Alsic), vol. 15, n° 1. http://alsic.revues.org/index2413.html
  10. Musser, J., O'Reilly, T. & the O'Reilly Radar Team. (2007). Web 2.0 Principles and Best Practices. Sebastopol (California): O'Reilly.
  11. Pegrum, M. (2011). "Modified, multiplied and (re-)mixed: Social media and digital literacies". In Thomas, M. (dir.). Digital education: Opportunities for social collaboration. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. Draft available online: http://e-language.wikispaces.com/file/view/Pegrum+-+Modified%2C+multiplied+and+remixed+%28Draft+Feb+2010%29.pdf
  12. Potolia, A., Loiseau, M. & Zourou, K. (2011). "Quelle(s) pédagogie(s) voi(en)t le jour dans les (grandes) communautés Web 2.0 d'apprenants de langue ?". Actes de la conférence EPAL 2011. pp. 19-22. http://w3.u-grenoble3.fr/epal/dossier/06_act/pdf/epal2011-potolia-et-al.pdf
  13. Preece, J. (2000). Online communities: Designing Usability, supporting sociability. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.
  14. Rheingold, H. (1993). The virtual community: Homesteading on the electronic frontier. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
  15. Shield, L. & Kukulska-Hulme, A. (dir.) (2008). Mobile Assisted Language Learning. Special issue of ReCALL, vol. 20, n° 3.
  16. Smith, M. & Kollock, P. (dir.) (1999). Communities in Cyberspace. London: Routledge.
  17. Thorne, S. L. (2003). "Artifacts and Cultures-of-Use in Intercultural Communication". Language Learning & Technology, vol. 7, n° 2. pp. 38-67. http://llt.msu.edu/vol7num2/thorne/default.html
  18. Thorne, S. L. (2008). "Mediating Technologies and Second Language Learning". In Leu, D., Coiro, J., Lankshear, C. & Knobel, M. (dir.). Handbook of Research on New Literacies. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. pp. 417-449.
  19. Thorne, S. L., Piet, D. & Cornillie, F. (dir.) (2012, in press). Digital Games for Language Learning: Challenges and Opportunities. ReCALL Journal.
  20. Warschauer, M. & Kern, R. (dir.) (2000). Network-based language teaching: Concepts and practice. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  21. Wellman, B., Quan-Haase, A., Boase, J., Wenhong, C., Hampton, K., Isla de Diaz, I. & Miyata, K. (2003). "The Social Affordances of the Internet for Networked Individualism". Journal of Computer-mediated Communication, vol. 8, n° 3. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol8/issue3/wellman.html
  22. Wellman, B. & Gulia, M. (1999). "Net surfers don't ride alone: virtual communities as communities". In Kollock, P. & Smith, M. (dir.). Communities and Cyberspace. New York: Routledge. Available online: http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman/publications/netsurfers/netsurfers.pdf
  23. Zourou, K., Loiseau, M. & Potolia, A. (2012, in press). "Exploring the role of social dynamics in OER reuse: the case of structured web 2.0 language learning communities". CALL Journal.

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Authors
Zourou, K.
Affiliations
University of Luxembourg (LU)
Corresponding author
Zourou, Katerina
ORCID
Zourou, Katerina
Venue
Alsic
Publisher
OpenEdition
Published
2012
Volume
Vol. 15, n°1
ISSN
1286-4986 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.4000/alsic.2436
OpenAlex
W1516290380
Cited by
97
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6
FWCI
19.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Alsic (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • OpenEdition (OpenEdition) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › English Language Learning and Teaching
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Educational Technology in Learning
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
Keywords
social media, language learning, Web 2.0, social networking sites, language learning communities, computer-assisted language learning, user participation, openness, network effects

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