ELL+and+Instagram


 * ELL and Instagram **

English Language Learners face many barriers when it comes to reading, writing, and speaking. One of the main barriers is learning vocabulary. Vocabulary builds a foundation that allows the learner to grow in speaking English, which then lends itself to reading and writing. It is also important to help build connections between the words and their meanings.
 * Vocabulary**

When ELL students are learning new words, Instagram is web 2.0 tool the teacher can use to help build their vocabulary development. The more the student is exposed to the word(s) in different context, the better they are to develop understanding, meaning, and fluency.

Instagram can be used in a multitude of ways to help ELL students with their vocabulary, reading and writing. Instagram is a social media site and app that users can upload pictures or videos to and add captions and comments to the media.

With Instagram, the teacher could upload videos and pictures of the vocabulary words for the ELL students to review. The students could also find their own pictures the represent the word or create videos that use the word in the correct context. Instagram could also benefit the learners by allowing them to type questions or add comments to pictures/videos provided by the teacher, building on their writing skills.


 * Listening and Speaking**

Instagram can also be used as a way to practice two of the four major domains regarding language, listening and speaking.

Developing student’s communication skills, Instagram provides English Language Learners with the opportunity to both express themselves in their second language as well as practice listening to and making meaning of other’s speech. By gaining more practice engaging in conversation, through uploading videos of their speech and watching videos of others, students can refine and gain confidence in their abilities. This allows the student to benefit from virtual exchanges as they refine their pronunciation, pragmatics, and more.

Teachers can support students by reviewing and commenting on these videos, providing constructive feedback to help them improve their skills. Teachers can also post their own videos with assignments and conversational challenges for students to complete. This could include students making videos to respond to and pose questions, to comment or share their opinion on various topics, and to identify the speech errors in videos posted by the teacher.

Barriers faced by ELL students when using Instagram may include:
 * not having a solid understanding of the vocabulary and struggling to understand the meaning of the picture.
 * recording videos and having a lack of clarity in their English.
 * lacking the background knowledge to successfully engage in or make meaning from conversations

If these barriers go unaddressed, ELL students may feel unable or motivated to engage with Instagram and therefore feel discouraged regarding their English skills. However, teachers can help ELL students can go beyond these barriers by working to provide guidance. A video stating and describing the vocabulary word or topic that the ELL student is unfamiliar with would then allow them to participate fully in conversation. The teacher or assistant may need to assist the students when recording their videos, ensuring their talking slow and clear.

Sources:

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http://www.englishoutsidethebox.com/2015/06/22/learn-and-improve-english-with-instagram/

http://busyteacher.org/20572-instagram-esl-classroom-8-great-ways-to-use.html