The effectiveness of social media on the process of learning a foreign Language

Abstract EN

Abstract The use of information communication and technology (ICT) and social media use has become increasingly embedded'in everyday life.

Among various social media, Facebook is a highly interactive virtual social communication tool and it has become increasingly among college students.

Dudeney (2000) states that more and more teachers have acknowledged that the Internet is an in note source of authentic materials, and supplies a vast encyclopaedia of information on a variety of topics which are able to engage students.

Apparently, the use of social media in the field of language teaching and learning is gaining tremendous favour in Iraq.

Despite the benefits of implementing social media in EFL .classroom, critics argue that "there are serious risks to using social media in the classroom" (Lederer, 2012).

In fact, there are critics which call for regulation and for removing social media from classrooms.

Research results have indicated that Facebook could be an effective platform for informal learning.

However, most of current studies in the educational use of social media seem to pay more attention on college students.

This study, however, explored the effectiveness of social media on learning English as a foreign language.