Applying Social Networks in ESL Blended Learning: A Case Study with Ethnic Minority Students

Abstract

The study analyzes and evaluates the use of social networks (Facebook, Messenger and Zalo) as educational tools as well as their influence in blended learning on ESL activities in a Vietnamese mountainous high school. In addition, the study endeavored to find out the most applicable teaching way in blended learning. The study participants included 30 students at Luc Ngan Number 2 High School divided into 2 groups (the social network classroom group and traditional classroom group) with the teaching support of a Canadian teacher. Multi-strategy design method was used to investigate and compare the results with description and statistical figures. The findings of the research suggest that social networks could be effectively and potentially used as supportive tools for Vietnamese ethnic minority students in English speaking learning. Besides, there are some challenges of ethnic minority language, physical environment, economic conditions and technology.