The use of social media platforms in online English Language Teaching (ELT)

Abstract

Social media becomes a new trend English language teaching, it has very familiar platforms in ELT classroom. The researcher theoretically focuses on flexible and affordable application including Facebook, YouTube, twitter, instagram, whatsApp, Google classroom and Edmodo. The researcher also interested in theoretically investigate the diversity of social media platforms usage in Online English language and teaching (ELT) because those have different features and implication on English language skills. This article reviews some articles from some published journal. The result, there are three characteristics of each platform, the informal ones including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter to develop students’ written and spoken skill. Then, semi-formal application is YouTube to increase students’ listening and speaking skills. The last, officially platforms including Google classroom and Edmodo to encourage integrated skills of English language teaching is like speaking, listening, writing and reading. Researcher recommends to selectively choose the appropriate platforms for teacher in order to achieve the goals of English language teaching.

Keywords: Social Media; Platforms; ELT