INTEGRATING PLATFORMS LIKE FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TIKTOK INTO LANGUAGE CLASSROOM

Аннотация

This paper explores the integration of contemporary social media platforms—specifically Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok—into the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. The rise of digital tools has transformed traditional learning models, enabling interactive, multimodal, and student-centered approaches to language instruction. This study highlights the pedagogical affordances of these platforms in fostering linguistic engagement, improving communicative competence, and enhancing learner motivation. Drawing on communicative language teaching principles and supported by theories of digital literacy and multimodality, the paper evaluates instructional strategies, student outcomes, and practical challenges. Ethical considerations, including digital safety and equitable access, are also discussed to ensure responsible implementation in diverse educational settings. Keywords: Social media in education; English language learning; digital pedagogy; Facebook; Instagram; TikTok; communicative competence; multimodal learning. Introduction.The rise of the Internet has created new possibilities for communication technologies and information sharing. This development was the initial catalyst for the creation of social media. The demand for a cost-effective, portable, and easily accessible information and communication technology (ICT) tool led to the emergence of social media. Manning states that two distinct periods are recognized in the evolution of media: the broadcast age and the interactive age. The broadcast age was characterized by a single entity (such as a radio or television station or newspaper publisher) that aimed to relay messages to a large audience. This mode Выпуск журнала №-28 Часть–3_Июнь –2025 28 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT of communication often resulted in indirect, delayed, and impersonal responses. Additionally, the mediated interactions between individuals were restricted. In contrast, social media represent new media forms centered around interactivity. Immediate and direct feedback is achievable through social media platforms. According to Manca, social media encompasses internet-based applications for sharing images (e.g., Instagram), organizing information (e.g., Pinterest), sending photo or video messages (e.g., Skype), instant messaging (e.g., WhatsApp), or a combination thereof (e.g., Facebook). 1 The affordability, portability, and accessibility of social media contributed to its rapid global adoption. Its immense popularity has garnered the attention of numerous educators who are exploring its educational benefits, including in language instruction.2 Social media has become widely utilized in educational contexts. Its incorporation in classrooms has revolutionized the dynamics between teachers and students. Chawinga asserts that the introduction of social media into classroom activities necessitates innovations in the learning process. An example of social media utilized in education is the website.3 Websites can facilitate interactive communication between students and teachers or instructors, enhancing the effectiveness of the educational process. This form of learning optimizes teaching and learning experiences as it transcends limitations of time and space. Furthermore, website-based learning can serve as a resource for guidance and training in ICT usage. The upcoming social media platform is a blog. Blogs feature text documents, images, media, and various supportive elements that can be easily accessed via an internet browser. Typically, a blog consists of personal reflections or diaries. In educational contexts, blogs can serve as interactive tools beyond the classroom. For instance, a teacher can create a blog that includes educational content they have 1 Manca, S. (2020). Snapping, pinning, liking or texting: Investigating social media in higher education beyond Facebook. Internet High,. Educ. 44:100707. doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2019.100707 2 Grahl, B. (2013). The media of social media. available online at: http://tristantreadwell.wordpress.com/tag/grahl/ (accessed May, 12, 2014) 3 W. D. Chawinga, “Taking social media to a university classroom: teaching and learning using Twitter and blogs,” Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ., vol. 14, no. 1, p. 3, 2017. Выпуск журнала №-28 Часть–3_Июнь –2025 29 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT taught..4 Moreover, students can be invited to visit the blog, where they can utilize the comment section to facilitate communication between teachers and students. Through the comments section, students have the opportunity to express proposals, share feedback, and discuss the educational system at the school, enabling both the institution and educators to enhance their effectiveness based on student needs. Additionally, teachers can organize and summarize educational material and publish it on a blog. This significantly accelerates the teaching process, as students will not need to take notes from the board anymore. It also fosters teacher cre