The Impact of Social Media on Teaching English to Children

06 Aug, 2022 Education

The Impact of Social Media

With the advent of the digital era and the ever-increasing dominance of social media within the world today, the way humans communicate has completely changed. These advancements and changes in technology have been pivotal in shaping students and influencing modern classrooms.

Social media has had a profound impact while teaching English to students in the classroom. It has allowed teachers to connect with their students in new and innovative ways. It can be used to facilitate discussion and collaboration, as well as to provide resources and support for English Language Learners (ELLs). Many different social media platforms can be used for English Language Teaching namely YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc.

It is extremely important to use social media responsibly while teaching English to children in the classroom. Following are some tips for English Language Teaching through social media in the classroom:

• Use Social media for teaching English to supplement your lessons, not replace them.
• Use social media to create a positive learning environment.
• Be aware of the potential risks of social media and take steps to protect your students.
• Utilize social media to get in touch with parents.
• Teach your students about responsible social media use.

Social media also makes it easy for parents to stay connected with their children while they're away from home. Parents can use social media to stay up-to-date on their child's progress, connect with other parents of English language learners, and get tips and resources for helping their child at home. When used correctly, social media can be a powerful tool for both teachers and parents in the English language learning process.

However, the use of social media for ESL learning has been met with mixed reviews among educators and researchers. On one hand, it can provide a more immersive and interactive learning experience for students. They can easily

connect with other English learners and native speakers from around the world, and practice their language skills in a real-time setting. On the other hand, it can also be a distraction for students, particularly if they are not used to managing their time well. In addition, some children may not be able to handle the online environment as maturely as others and may be more susceptible to cyber bullying or other negative online experiences.

The bottom line is that social media can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to children and English Teaching and Learning. Teachers truly need to be aware of both the positive and negative impacts before deciding on whether or not to use social media while teaching children in schools.

• Mandira Mazumdar
• Writer | Master’s Degree in English Language and Literature