Leveraging the Use of Social Media in Teaching Writing: A Qualitative Investigation among ESL Pre-Service Teachers

Authors

  • Rusreena Rusli National University of Malaysia (UKM)
  • Harwati Hashim National University of Malaysia (UKM)
  • Melor Md Yunus National University of Malaysia (UKM)
  • Nur Yasmin Khairani Zakaria National University of Malaysia (UKM)
  • Helmi Norman National University of Malaysia (UKM)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v13i11.10910

Keywords:

challenges, opportunities, social media, teaching of writing, TESL pre-service teachers

Abstract


Advances of technology and innovation suggest new form and paths in language teaching. Social media use can be a great influence for English as a Second Language (ESL) students especially in writing competency. Despite of many positive reports that presented affordances in social media use, however, there are insufficient studies that investigate ESL trainee teachers’ perception on this matter. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate ESL pre-service teachers’ views upon leveraging the use of social media in teaching of writing focusing on the opportunities and challenges. This study employed qualitative methods where thirty-four ESL pre-service teachers from a public university were involved. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that ESL pre-service teachers perceived the use of social media in teaching writing can be of beneficial and similarly challenging. Opportunities stated by the participants include enhancement in collaborative learning, supporting students’ self-directed learning and simplify the teaching and learning processes. On the other hand, the challenges mentioned by the participants are that social media can be a source of distraction, deterioration in language and plagiarism. Thus, it is advisable that teachers play their roles responsibly in managing students’ activities online and also be equipped with technology skills to enhance the establishments of social media in ESL teaching of writing.

Author Biographies

Harwati Hashim, National University of Malaysia (UKM)

Harwati Hashim is a Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor at theCentre for Teaching and Learning Innovations, Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Melor Md Yunus, National University of Malaysia (UKM)

Melor Md Yunus is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and is currently the Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Nur Yasmin Khairani Zakaria, National University of Malaysia (UKM)

Nur Yasmin Khairani Zakaria is a lecturer at theCentre for Teaching and Learning Innovations, Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Helmi Norman, National University of Malaysia (UKM)

Helmi Norman is a Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor at theCentre for Teaching and Learning Innovations, Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

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Published

2019-11-15

How to Cite

Rusli, R., Hashim, H., Md Yunus, M., Zakaria, N. Y. K., & Norman, H. (2019). Leveraging the Use of Social Media in Teaching Writing: A Qualitative Investigation among ESL Pre-Service Teachers. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM), 13(11), pp. 85–94. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v13i11.10910

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Papers