Social networks as a way of learning foreign languages

Modern information technologies in educational activities

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SOCIAL NETWORKS AS A WAY TO LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

© Asanova A.S.^

Scientific advisor:Kitibaeva A.K.

Buketov University, Karaganda

The article is devoted to topical issues of social network research in the field of foreign language learning. A brief overview of the most popular networks is presented.

Keywords: social networks, foreign languages, independent study.

The beginning of the third millennium is characterized by the rapid development of computer and network technologies. Initially, they were created to solve specialized applied problems and were available only to a narrow circle of specialists. Currently, these technologies have become widespread and have acquired pronounced social features, the most characteristic embodiment of which are the so-called social networks.

And if the Internet of the first wave contributed mainly to the transmission of information vertically, then for the modern Internet in general and social networks in particular, the development of horizontal relations is characteristic: work on social connections is contacts, communication, friendship [1].

Social networks appeared almost at the same time as the Internet back in 1969. One of the first social network resources is considered to be the network Classmates.com , created by Randy Conrads in 1995. Classmates translates as classmates. Thanks to this site, users had the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates, find work colleagues and friends. The network is still active today, and has more than 50 million users in the USA and Canada. Which social networks are most popular in Russia?

According to Runet data, 52% of the population over the age of 18 use the Internet in Russia. This is 61.1 million people (according to the FOM, autumn 2012). In Russian cities of one hundred thousand people, Internet penetration is 60-70%. For comparison, in the UK and the USA – 70-80%. Russia ranks sixth in the world in terms of the number of Internet users. A third of Russians prefer mobile Internet. At the same time, the influence of social networks on Runet residents is growing: in 2012, 82% of Internet users have at least one social network account. In 2010, 53% (VTsIOM) had accounts. The most popular social networks in Russia: 1) Odnoklassniki – use 73 % users of the world Wide Web; 2) VKontakte – 62%; 3) My World – 31%; 4) Facebook - 18%; 5) Twitter - 9% [2].

VKontakte has a younger audience: the share of respondents aged 18 to 24 in this network is 85%. VKontakte is the leader in the activity of visiting the project: 45% of users registered on this portal visit it daily, and 70% - more than once a day. Every third VKontakte participant spends more than half an hour of his time on one visit [3].

The educational value of these sites is very high. University teachers create groups to exchange information with students. Assignments for practical classes, lectures on the course being studied are posted on the site, there is an opportunity to provide additional materials, answer questions arising in the learning process, coordinate group work and practice management, effectively organize long-term project activities, international exchanges, including scientific and educational ones.

The information on the web page is easily and quickly updated. As an example, we can cite groups created on the basis of ITMO University, St. Petersburg: Foreign Languages at ITMO, Multimedia Center for Learning Foreign Languages.

To date, almost all universities are equipped with computer classes, which makes it possible to widely use the Internet in foreign language classes. With the help of the Internet and various social networks, it is possible to solve a number of practical tasks: to form reading skills and abilities using the materials of the global network; to improve writing skills; to replenish vocabulary; to work on pronunciation; to motivate students to study the English language. Students can take part in tests, in contests and quizzes, Olympiads held on the Internet, participate in chats, video conferences, etc. Modern technologies make classes more interesting, informative, diverse and effective.

Thanks to the Internet, students have the opportunity to establish and maintain business contacts and contacts with their peers in English-speaking countries, broaden their horizons, study the culture, traditions and customs of the country of the language being studied through communication.

The following advantages of using the social network as a training platform can be distinguished:

1. A familiar environment for students.

2. In a social network, a person acts under his name-surname.

3. Wiki technology allows all network participants to create online educational content.

4. The possibility of collaboration.

5. The presence of a forum, wall, chat.

6. Each student – participant can create his own blog as an electronic notebook.

7. The activity of the participants is traced through the friends' feed [4].

With the help of social networks, users can not only find work and friends for a variety of leisure activities, but also engage in self-education. According to foreign experts, it is self-managed training that is becoming a trend not only in the field of corporate training, but also in training in general. First of all, it is an opportunity to learn foreign languages through social networks. Previously, only some language courses provided students with the opportunity to constantly communicate with native speakers. Today it is possible to study a foreign language independently within the framework of communication on specialized resources. The largest of them are Livemocha.com (more than 8 million users and 38 languages according to the network itself) and Soziety.com .

Livemocha is a popular American social network where the principle is in effect: help another, and he will help you. If the program cannot check some tasks, then native speakers sort them out. Several stages of language learning have been developed. Each stage consists of five lessons. Each lesson includes four mandatory tasks: the study of new vocabulary, consolidation of the studied material, written and oral parts.

The Mylanguageexchange social network is the best service where you can find a "pen pal". After registering on the site, you need to choose the ideal "pen pal", specify his/her native language and the language he/she practices, as well as the country of residence and the approximate age of the person with whom you would like to communicate. Thus, the user will improve his knowledge, and, perhaps, will gain friends.

The site with the unusual name italki offers chats for virtual communication and the ability to edit texts. This site provides an opportunity to communicate with the best teachers of foreign languages around the world. Internet lessons are conducted via Skype at a convenient time for the user. After completing the lessons, you can consolidate the knowledge gained in practice by communicating with people from this country.

Busuu.com – this is a virtual community for learning foreign languages, created by 39-year-old Adrian from Liechtenstein and 34-year-old Bernard from Austria. They both know three languages perfectly and are not going to stop there. Based on their own experience, they created an alternative method of learning foreign languages. The site's creators adhere to three main rules: classes are conducted by native speakers, original text, audio and video material is used, tuition fees are not charged. Every member of the community does not only study a foreign language himself, but also helps everyone in learning his native language. The site presents more than 150 lessons covering various topics and grammar tasks that teach the most important grammatical rules. All lessons are accompanied by video and audio recordings.

The LinguaLeo service is a website based on a gaming methodology. The main character is a lion cub named Leo. The lion cub needs to be fed at a certain time, i.e. go to the website and perform various training tasks. There is a pride where you can add friends. The database of video, audio and text materials is called the jungle. Each participant of the project must determine his or her own level of knowledge and the time he or she plans to devote to classes. Based on this information, a progress diagram is built, with the help of which you can track your successes and determine the most optimal number of lessons. More than 500 thousand users are registered on this site.

Portal Edu-Station.ru – this is a new website that helps you learn foreign languages on your own. This portal was created to study English, German, French, Spanish and Polish. The main advantage of this project is simplicity and convenience. The site was developed taking into account all the shortcomings of similar projects previously launched on the Runet and the World Wide Web. The site presents extensive materials on various topics, video lessons, mini lessons, working on various aspects of grammar and vocabulary, crosswords.

In addition to social networks, we should mention YouTube, a service that provides video hosting services. There are many channels on YouTube for users learning English: MinooAngloLink - useful grammar lessons, Dailydictation – American English with short dictation and pronunciation training, Duncaninchina – short videos about everything in English, EnglishLessons4U – video lessons on a variety of topics.

These are just some of the most popular social networks aimed at independent study of foreign languages.

In the era of global globalization, knowledge of foreign languages is more relevant than ever. Every person needs to know at least one foreign language in order to make a successful career, communicate with representatives of other countries and cultures, and travel around the world. Traditional teaching methods often turn out to be ineffective due to the lack of practice and live communication. In the age of the Internet, just one click is enough to register in any social network, chat, or on a foreign language forum. Thanks to Internet resources, the user will find a huge number of books, films and other video materials in different languages. Reading books in the original language, watching movies without translation, listening to audio recordings, and, of course, communicating with a pen pal contribute to the rapid and effective learning of a foreign language.

Over the past decades, the Internet has transformed from a highly specialized network into a Global Network that has covered the whole world. Social networks are a unique platform for interpersonal communication in the virtual space, self–education and modernization of the educational process.

List of literature:

1. Bakunovich N.I. Educational opportunities of social networks / N.I. Bakunovich // Abstracts of reports of the interuniversity scientific conference of students and postgraduates, Minsk, April 20, 2011 / GIUST BSU; Editorial Board of F.P. Vitko [et al.]. – Mn., 2011. – pp. 42-44.

2. http://snce.ru/ru/obzor-samyh-populyarnyh-socialnyh-setey-runeta .

3. Mozhaeva G.V., Feshchenko A.V., The use of virtual social networks in the educational process // XVII International Scientific and Methodological Conference "Modern education: content, technology, quality", April 20, 2011, St. Petersburg. – St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg State Electrotechnical V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin) LETI University, 2011. – pp. 102-103.

4. Klimenko O.A. Social networks as a means of teaching and interaction of participants in the educational process [Text] / O.A. Klimenko // Theory and practice of education in the modern world: materials of the International Scientific Conference (St. Petersburg, February 2012). – St. Petersburg: Renome, 2012. – pp. 405-407.