Utilizing Facebook Groups in Teaching Writing: Jordanian EFL Students’ Perceptions and Attitudes

Abstract

Online social networks have recently been perceived by educators and language specialists as an alternativemethod for EFL teaching and learning. Utilizing Facebook (FB) in teaching and learning is considered acontroversial issue. Users have the option of exchanging information within a group setting. This studyinvestigates the perceptions and attitudes of Jordanian EFL students’ at Irbid University College-Al-Balqa’Applied University towards utilizing Facebook groups in teaching writing. It also seeks to investigate the rolethat Facebook groups play in enhancing the writing performance level and brainstorm ideas at the pre-writingstage. A survey consisting of ten questions was used to assess these factors. The participants were 42 EFLstudents at the department of English Language and Literature. Informants were also required to participate in aFacebook group named “Write Out Clear” designed by the researchers. Findings revealed that Facebook groupscan be effective in teaching EFL writing. Furthermore, results illustrated that students can develop theirvocabulary by being exposed to fellow group members' posts, in addition to checking for misspelled words.Finally, such findings may help EFL educators in incorporating ICTs into their teaching of various languageskills to EFL learners.