Social Networking for Language Education

Social media are applications that have a networking dimension at the heart of their use. They attract language learners, teachers and providers for different reasons, although they are a controversial issue in language education as we lack evidence whether and how they promote language learning. This book studies the impact of networking with the social media on language learning, through a collection of chapters offering theoretical perspectives and empirical studies of learner experiences in a wide range of networking settings, illustrating through a variety of teaching as well as research methodologies. Through focusing on communities and socialization, together the editors and contributors help to identify priority issues (such as identity and community-building) that need attention if today's social media culture is to work to the benefit of language learners.

MARIE-NOELLE LAMY is Professor of Distance Language Learning at the Open University, UK. She has 15 years of experience in designing and implementing languages courses for online study, involving extensive use of e-tutorials, text-based as well as voice-based. Marie-Noelle has researched extensively in the field of computer-mediated communication for language learning, with a particular interest in real-time group conversations in multimodal settings. Her current main interests are investigating methodologies for the description of online learning conversations, and researching co-construction of group cultures by language learners in online and social networking environments. her publications include Online Communication in Language Learning and Teaching(RPAL series, Palgrave 2007).


KATERINA ZOUROU is a post-doctoral researcher in the field of computer supported collaborative language learning at the University of Luxembourg. Her research interests involve the role of computer tools in foreign language education as well as telecollaborative practices online. Working in multicultural teams in France, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Greece, she currently provides consultation on educational issues to the European Commission in Brussels, and also coordinates the European Commission funded network 'language learning and social media: 6 key dialogues'.