Abstract:

Giving students the opportunity to practice vocabulary and grammar through various interactive learning activities helped them to interact in real life tasks. This action research study aims to develop students’ communicational skills in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) through the practice of everyday vocabulary and basic grammar structures using social media platforms.

A group of college students of an EFL elementary level participated in this action research which consisted in the creation of five different types of posters that were published on Facebook and Instagram. These activities were designed to enhance students’ vocabulary and grammar in order to communicate with each other through request for response texts and videos.

For this action research important insights from students were obtained along the process through surveys and discussions with the whole class. Therefore, students’ own experiences and perceptions about their learning needs and personal interests were taken into account.

The data suggested that engagement, commitment and self-confidence were key elements for students’ successful interactions with their peers in the target language. Furthermore, the unique dynamic created in social media allowed students to see, read, listen to and comment their mates’ posters along with the possibility to reflect, review content, check grammar structures, recycle vocabulary. This meaningful process guided students to prepare and improve their own work autonomously and collaboratively meeting in this way communicative purposes.

Keywords:

Social media, vocabulary, grammar, interaction, EFL learning.