Using social networking to enhance the EFL classroom

This paper reports on a small experiment using Social Networking in an English class in an English Medium of Instruction tertiary-level institution in Zhuhai, Southern China. The investigation was carried out both in the classroom and online. Firstly, a Web 2.0 Social Networking Site (SNS) for English learning purposes, AlexCALL, was set up for a case study, and the experiment was conducted in two phases. Inter views with the relevant teachers were also conducted, allowing them to share their concerns and suggestions for the use of this collaboration-rich learning environment. Based on the results from the experiment and the feedback from the interviews, some tentative conclusions were made, and the future potential was discussed.