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| English learners use #twinglish tag to connect with other learners and teachers on twitter |
| Written by Administrator |
| Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:52 |
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Twitter, the microblogging platform that "gives a voice to even the weakest signals" has become a popular networking site for English learners. To stay connected with other learners and teachers, English learners around the world use the hashtag #twinglish. Hashtags are clickable and help to organize tweets that are based around the same topic. "It seems to many of my followers use it. #twinglish is very useful hashtag!" tweets Japanese twitter user Yuki, after discovering the tag while tweeting in English. Many of the learners using #twinglish are Japanese or Korean, though the trend is quickly catching on in other countries as well. Some tweet in both their native language and in English while others are learning more than one language via twitter: "I wanna study French. But don't wanna be like a "Jack of all trade but none of master." hmm. #twinglish #engtwit" tweets Chisato from Japan. #Engtwit is another hashtag that English learners use to communicate with each other in group formation. "Practising English by reading and writing one line at a time is just the bite sized amount of English that busy students can handle," says EnglishClub.com's administrator who runs the twitter account @EnglishClub. EnglishClub.com is just one example of a website for ELLs that uses the #twinglish hashtag to provide English learners with new words, phrases, and online activities and lessons. Many English teachers with blogs and websites of their own (such as @readable and @TeacherMelanie) are doing the same. A growing number of English learners are using twitter from their mobile phones. Studying English on-the-go via twitter is easy, fun, and a great use of time while sitting for long hours in buses, trains, and waiting rooms. "On my way home〜!! I REALLY enjoyed!! #twinglish #EngTwit" tweets a TOEIC student from his mobile phone. His English goal for the exam he is preparing for is written in his bio. The hashtag system is a lifeline for learners who need to ask English questions when a teacher or native English speaker is not available face to face. The British Council and About.com also offer regular help and links for English learners via Twitter. The How to Use Twitter-an easy guide for ESL learners offers 4 main reasons for learners to tweet. 1. improve your English one link at a time 2. chat with English friends and teachers from around the world 3. receive quick updates on new EnglishClub resources (or other FREE resources from other teachers and online sites) 4. Share your MyEC Status updates and blog posts with the world. The fourth reason refers to EnglishClub.com's social network, MyEC, which can be connected to a member's twitter account. By syncing a MyEC account to a twitter account, members can reach a wider audience when posting a link from an English blog or lesson. The How to page also links to a list of Twitter Tips for English learners. When English learners follow @EnglishClub and start using the #twinglish tag, they are instantly connected to thousands of other learners and teachers from all over the world. EnglishClub is currently expanding its twitter list of English learners. Learners who wants to be added to the list can simply reply to @EnglishClub with the tweet "Add me to the learners list" #twinglish. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites |
