Sifting Through the Noise: A Sceptic's Guide to ESOL Teacher Groups

While reading this week’s material, I was naturally drawn to explore Facebook. As an ESOL teacher, I have been looking for new ideas on the internet for years, but never much on social media. Here is a summary of my observations:

Teaching English as a Second Language is somewhat specific. Most students will never need it, while it is crucial for those who do. Furthermore, in terms of social media, the concept of an ‘ESOL teacher’ can be as broad or as narrow as one chooses. For example, there are many ESOL teachers whose only qualification is the fact that they were brought up in an English-speaking country. Add to that the scores of passionate non-native teachers and you get a digital landscape that is incredibly varied. And so, because the barrier to entry in online spaces is so low, social media easily becomes flooded with spam and low-quality material.

How does an ESOL teacher find a group to support their growth?

On Facebook, there are over 50 different groups for ESOL teachers of mostly dubious quality. Yet, hidden among them are a few private groups, such as Adult Ed ESL Teachers, and NYS ESL Network by Teachers for Teachers. I chose to join both, but I am still waiting for my approval for the Adult Ed ESL Teachers group.

My initial experience: I am glad that I looked and signed up. The NYS ESL Network group is filled with helpful links. I dare say that within my own institution, I am a very well-informed teacher. However, the resources I have been able to find so far have exceeded my expectations and truly energized me. Different ESOL teachers’ blogs, practice-oriented articles and showcases of student work make me believe that I have found a group of like-minded people.

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Social Media and Adult Education

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