Tutorial 1: Integrating Social Networking Tools into ESL Writing Classroom: Strengths and Weaknesses. By Melor Md Yunus, Hadi Salehi, Chen Chenzi

Summary

There are several pros and cons of integrating social networking tools into writing classroom which is can encourage the teacher-student relationship outside the classroom. Since the internet can provide more information, it can help both of students and teachers to broaden their knowledge. Moreover, students thinking and writing skills can be trained and improving their vocabulary because they have responsibilities on what they said to their larger audience. However they also might using the informal short forms since they used to instant messaging and forget how to spell correctly due to the auto correction. Other than that, the lack of efficient facilities and internet access hold the students to reach their teacher’s aim. Lastly, students’ confidence in the reality world will be diminished because they not used to communicate with other people face-to-face.   
Review 

This article is mainly about the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the social networking tools into English as a Second Language (ESL) writing classroom. The author investigated and discussed the ways to plan activities by integrating social networking services (SNSs). The example of SNSs that are widely used are Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and many more that connecting people no matter how far they are as long as they can access it. The purpose of this article is to considering the pros and cons of integrating the SNSs into classroom.

The work present which is the design of the study is qualitative in nature that involving 15 TESL students to participate in an online discussion board created by the researcher. This 15 TESL student was being chosen because they have an experience of the SNSs and have been studying English for more than ten years. But from my point of view, taking respondents that already have the experience and good acknowledgement in English, of course they are giving a better result as the researchers’ wish. Perhaps the discussion they made online was just like a platform for them to discuss further about certain topics or questions given because they can ‘Google’ at the same time. But on the other hand, this research succeed in enhancing the students’ mind or ideas and giving chances for whom that are less confidence in talking publicly because somehow they have to speak in English in a better manner. How does this work contribute to writing classes is when the students are giving out their ideas without feeling insecure of getting mad from the teachers for the wrong answers and not brave enough to speak out in front of the fellow friends. Even though it was just an online based, but in the end, when they get used to their friends as the result of online discussion before, they able to build the confidence and speak for their mind in reality.

The author agrees that integrating social networking tools into the writing classroom is a better way to help students that have less confidence in class to speak out the ideas. I am supporting his idea because from my experience, this technique seems effective because some of acquaintance I know succeed that way. But some difficulties faced by some students that have limited access of internet and lack of enough equipment should be considered. The teachers should find another solution to make sure that each of her students get the information and achieve the objectives. In my opinion, implementing the social networking tools into the writing classroom is an alternative way to enhance the students’ ability to write more. But for usual mistakes such as using informal short forms can be overcome where the teacher set a certain rules for her students like they have to use proper language to communicate each other. Someday whenever they already get used to it, they can make a better writings.