Facebook - a valuable educational tool

I would like to summarize the very positive experience I have had with Facebook vis a vis promoting and "teaching" English as a Second Language.

First, I began using Facebook about 5 years ago. Anyone can create a group to invite people to become members.  So I created a number of groups to learn English: Songs, Pronunciation, Literature for Reading, and Grammar Lessons. I would add something to each group every week. Gradually people started to join and now the Songs and Reading groups have over 3000 members.

At the same time I joined a number of Teachers' groups including the group started by David Rosen. - AEFE.

One feature that Facebook offers is its Chat. Here you can send texts and you can also call someone and talk or you can click on the video camera and start a video chat. This morning I visited an English class of a friend in Guadalajara who is using my program and I "met" all her students. I have been invited back to give a test!!!

About a month ago, Facebook added a Live Streaming feature, which I used a few times to discuss issues with learning English along with some lessons. One session was "visited" over 1000 times in one day!! But usually about 200 or so visit within a week.

 So - if you add it all up, Facebook can actually become the class and it changes the definition of Distance and Blended Learning. It is fascinating and very enjoyable and extremely interesting and - useful. 

Paul Rogers