Social Presence and Identity: Facebook in an English Language Classroom

This study examined whether social media can promote adolescent English learners' academic and social progress. Recently arrived adolescents mainly from East Africa participated in a four-day social media unit in a high school English as a Second Language class. Data were collected from the students' Facebook posts, video recordings of class interactions, student presentations, and interviews. The results indicated that social media had a positive impact. The authors discuss using social media in classes with transnational newcomers.