Hi David,

I always integrate social networks to teaching English as a  foreign language, especially EDMODO. There's some collected research published at www.theflippedclassroom.es 

Hope you find it useful,

Cheers,

Laura

Laura thank you very much. At the moment I'm writing a paper on the use of social netwrks in ESL but I haven't found any other papers to quote or use as references.

Social networks are like learning communities with some differences of course ( reality versus virtuality) . There are hundreds of books and researches in this field.

I have a paper that looks at use of social media in language teacher traininghttp://apliut.revues.org/4432

Thank you Shona, do not worry I will quote and give you credit on references.

Hi David,

I'm not sure what you're wanting to restrict social networks to -- none of these are about Facebook, for instance, but here are some references that cover weblogs, chat, and some other forms:

Miyazoe, T, & Anderson, T. (2010). Learning outcomes and students' perceptions of online writing: Simultaneous implementation of a forum, blog, and wiki in an EFL blended learning setting. System, 38(2), pp. 185-199.

Lee, L. (2011). Blogging: Promoting learner autonomy and intercultural competence through study abroad. Language Learning & Technology 15(3), pp. 87-109.

Ewa M. Golonka, Anita R. Bowles, Victor M. Frank, Dorna L. Richardson, and Suzanne Feynik. (2014) `Technologies for foreign language learning: a review of technology types and their effectiveness' in Computer Assisted Language Learning, Vol 27.1:70-105. By Routledge.

Professor Randall Sadler works a related area and has publications here (including one on chats):  http://www.linguistics.illinois.edu/people/rsadler 

Best Wishes,

Lori

Thank your for the info Lori.

Hello. I think there is some research in the area..But it's still an area that needs more investigation, especially in ELT/TESOL/TEFL. It's surprising that we don't have much in the area (language learning), although social networking would definitely facilitate more genres of writing and communication online!

I've recently conducted a study dealing with employing Facebook as a community of practice at Assiut University College of Education in Egypt.

Full citation: Abdallah, M. M. S. (2013). A Community of Practice Facilitated by Facebook for Integrating New Online EFL Writing Forms into Assiut University College of Education. Journal of New Valley Faculty of Education 12(1), Assiut University (November, 2013), 581-650. Available on ERIC (ED545728) at: http://0-files.eric.ed.gov.opac.msmc.edu/fulltext/ED545728.pdf

Best regards

Mahmoud

Dr Mahmoud Mohammad Sayed Abdallah

Assistant Professor of Curriculum & TESOL/TEFL Methodology

Curriculum & Instruction Department

College of Education

Assiut University, 71515

Assiut

Egypt

Mahmoud thank you very much for the information. Please rest assured that your work will be cited accordingly in my paper.