ERIC Number: ED625201
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Dec-12
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Twitter as a Dynamic Language Learning Platform for Learners of Irish as an Additional Language in a Primary School Setting in Ireland: Review and Recommendations
Research-publishing.net, Paper presented at the EUROCALL 2022 Conference (30th, Reykjavik, Iceland, Aug 17-19, 2022)
This paper explores the utilisation of "Twitter" as a dynamic language learning platform in order to create an authentic domain of use for learners of Irish as an Additional Language (IAL) in a primary school setting in Ireland wherein 20 fourth class children and their parents participated. The Irish language context is firstly introduced, which contextualises a rationale for utilising Twitter for language learning. Teacher, child, and parent engagement with "Twitter" is then outlined with reference to the action research methodology employed. The repository of class tweets, periodic participant advisory group discussions and questionnaires, coupled with teacher-researcher reflection informed a qualitative data analysis. Results indicate notable student engagement with and enjoyment of tweeting in class "as Gaeilge" [in Irish] whereby the class Twitter account emerged as a practicable language learning platform. Its affordances enabled the student composition and publishing of short texts (tweets) and the provision of authentic Irish tweets for class reading. Parent and child engagement out of class, while relatively low, also demonstrated a promising additional domain of use, subject to the negotiation of orientation-related and implementation-related challenges for learners in a blended setting. In conclusion, recommendations to support the use of Twitter in endangered language school contexts are suggested. [For the complete volume, "Intelligent CALL, Granular Systems and Learner Data: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2022 (30th, Reykjavik, Iceland, August 17-19, 2022)," see ED624779.]
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Elementary School Students, Grade 4, Parents, Irish, Second Language Learning, Social Media, Telecommunications, Computer Mediated Communication, Learner Engagement, Parent Participation
Research-publishing.net. La Grange des Noyes, 25110 Voillans, France. e-mail: info@research-publishing.net; Web site: http://research-publishing.net
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A