Prospects of Social Networks in Online Teaching English as a Foreign Language at a Higher Education Establishment

Abstract

Today it is easy to have the Internet connection everywhere: in different educa-tional and social settings, coffee shops, public transport, shops, classrooms etc. This article attempts to investigate the usage of the Internet and computer technologies, especially social networks which are applied in students’ everyday lives, in the pro-cess of teaching English as a foreign language, as at present to go with the times it is impossible for a teacher to neglect the interests and requirements of the students. It shows new opportunities for a teacher at English classes: modern platforms and web sites, social networks, blogs help not only share the information, make a lesson mo-bile-friendly, but motivate students in studying a foreign language. The article also shows the problem of the obsessive use of computer technologies which does not pro-vide human-to-human contact, which may limit teacher’s opportunities for communi-cative activities which are extremely necessary while studying a foreign language. The combination of IT and traditional modes are the elements of blended learning which is underlined to be the most effective method in teaching English as a foreign language. The information helps us to determine several characteristics for a successful foreign language teacher which among others (communicative, sociolinguistic, sociocultural and pragmatic) include methodical competence. That prove the urge necessity if using IT in general and blended and online learning in particular in the work of English as a foreign language teacher.