Introduction
Language is an integral tool for our dealings with other people in the world. It is through language that we are able to communicate and exchange ideas with each other. Due to the significance of language, many people are encouraged to gain proficiency in more than one language. These Second Language Learners try to gain proficiency in a language that is at first foreign to them. To assist in this task, they use various tools including books, and audiovisual material for learning.
In addition to these traditional tools, second language learners have tried to make use of the tools made available to them through technological advances. One of these tools is social networking sites, which have gained great popularity over the last few years. Social networking has attracted millions of users all over the world and provided a cheap means for people to interact with their friends and people with similar interests to theirs.
Educators have tried to look for ways through which social networking can enhance the education of students. Some researchers have tried to investigate if social networking can offer some opportunities to second language learners. This paper will argue that social networking presents many opportunities that can be used by second language learners to enhance their new language skills and gain greater proficiency in the language.
Opportunities provided by Social Networking
Social networking contributes to the motivation of learners to gain proficiency in the second language. Motivation, which is the process of encouraging certain behavior, is vital for the continuous inspiration of a learner to achieve the desired learning goals. Social networks motivate learners by providing them with opportunity to meet other people who are native speakers of the language they are learning or fellow learners.
Clark states that by meeting such people, a person is highly encouraged to keep learning and gain proficiency in the new language (167). In some social networks, the learner has the opportunity to make friends with fellow learners and they can encourage and motivate each other through the difficulties of learning the new language.
A significant opportunity presented by social networking is access to other users of the foreign language. Some second language learners try gaining knowledge of a language in a place where there are no speakers of the foreign language. When this happens, the learner has no opportunities to use the foreign language.
As has been noted, being able to use the target language on a regular basis is integral to the second language acquisition process. Without opportunities for use of the foreign language, the learner is likely to stop learning due to the lack of practical application of the knowledge he/she gains. Social networking helps to overcome this by introducing the learner to a community of native speakers and peer learners of the target language (Harrison 111).
With access to such a community, the individual has numerous opportunities to practice and use the foreign language. Research by Dalton reveals that through social networks, non-native speakers are able to benefit from the in-depth knowledge that native speakers of the target language have (2). Social networking sites have applications that enable a person to carry out text-based chats or even voice chats with the other users. Social networking therefore gives second language learners an opportunity to use the target language.
The ease of access to second language learning resources has been promoted by social networking sites. Traditionally, learners had to rely on their teachers and tools such as books and audio cassettes in their language learning. While these means were effective, they did not provide students with a great amount of resources. Student learning was also restricted to the material that the teacher issued.
With social networking, students are exposed to a wide array of learning material. Dalton reveals that social networking provides an environment that is rich with features that assist in the growth or the learner’s developing second language (3).There are sites, which are specifically created to provide second language learners with the material they need and recommend other language enhancement means.
Dalton notes that following the initial exposure to a language, the student must make great effort to become accomplished in the language (7). Social networking reduces the effort needed since the learner is able to engage in his learning activity in a fun environment. With access to such facilities, the learning opportunities of a student are greatly increased leading to greater language acquisition.
Social networking has changed the way people learn languages and led to an increase in the number of second language learners all over the world. Traditionally, one had to be living with speakers of a foreign language or make use of a teacher familiar with the foreign language in order to develop skills in the desired second language. With the growth and expansion of computer networks, sites that are designed to assist individuals learn foreign languages have been developed.
Some of these sites cater to the needs of students who are at a beginner level in their language acquisition process. Clark reveals that this has led to an increase in the number of students who engage in foreign language learning (164). Social networking has therefore increased the learning opportunities for individuals who might otherwise have been prevented from learning a foreign language due to the cost involved.
Social networking offers the opportunity for learners to benefit from other learners. In all learning environments, students are encouraged to learn from each other. Second language learners are also encouraged to learn and teach each other in order to enhance their language development.
Social networking promotes this learning activity by bringing together a community of individuals who have the same learning objectives (Dalton 3). In such an environment, the learner’s ability is enhanced as he/she teaches a fellow learner, or is taught by a peer. Peer learning is especially beneficial since learners are more sensitive to the difficulties that they face in learning a second language.
Students are presented with greater opportunities to practice their new language skills and increase their confidence level in its use through social networking. In second language acquisition, practicing communication in the new language is mandatory for language development. Most tutors encourage their students to engage in conversations in the language they are learning in order to familiarize themselves and acquire more vocabulary.
Most students lack confidence in the second language and therefore avoid using it for fear of making mistakes. With social networking, the confidence of the student is raised since one is given time to think how to use the foreign language while chatting (Clark 168). With increased use of the second language, a student is able to increase his/her proficiency and therefore demonstrate greater competence in the language.
A student’s ability to engage in autonomous learning is promoted by social networking. While the teacher plays a crucial role in the learning process, student interest and involvement is necessary for the best results to be achieved. If students are encouraged to engage in learning on their own, their interest in the language can be increased.
Social networking helps achieve greater involvement by providing students with the tools with which to take control of their learning process (Harrison 110). By use of social networking sites, the student is able to read outside of the provided curriculum and gain greater knowledge on the language without teacher involvement. This opportunities increase the speed with which second language proficiency is achieved by the leaner.
Conclusion
This paper set out to argue that social networking gives many opportunities to the second language learner. It began by noting that social networking tools are used by millions of users and the tools can be harnessed to assist in the second language acquisition process. The paper has noted that social networking plays a major role in motivating learners and increasing their confidence levels as they engage in learning activities.
Learners are also given access to material that can be used to enhance their target foreign language abilities. The paper has revealed that social networking gives learners the opportunity to not only meet other speakers of the target language but also an opportunity for constant use of the foreign language. Considering the huge opportunities that social networking presents, second language educators should promote the use of these tools among their students.
Works Cited
Clark, Charles. “The use of social networking sites for foreign language learning: An autoethnographic study of Livemocha.” Proceedings Ascilite Sydney 2.1 (2010):164-173. Web.
Dalton, Mallory. Social networking and second language acquisition: Exploiting Skype Chat for the purpose of investigating interaction in L2 English Learning. Jan. 2011. Web. 2013. Web.
Harrison, Rob. “Identity in online communities: Social networking sites and language learning.” International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society, 7.2 (2009): 109-124. Web.