The Future of Education

As a result of the increasing access to internet and the development of social networks, the social networks like "Telegram" and "WhatsApp" play more and more important roles in education including foreign language learning and provide more access to information and materials leading to a better and easier learning in Iran. Nowadays, most Iranians have these programs on their cellphones and can use them everywhere and every time. Furthermore, “Telegram” and “WhatsApp” provide learners with the opportunity to join to some groups in which they can share their experiences and information. Certainly, paying more attention to this learning device and making more and more research activities in this regard provide insights into more effective ways of teaching and learning in future. This study investigated how positively, social networks and the information exchanged via them affect the development of foreign language learning skills. This study is a quantitative research. Survey questionnaires including closed-response items based on five-point Likert Scales were used to elicit the perspectives of 100 Iranian learners of  German language who are members of two groups in the social network "Telegram" that aim to make the learners ready for B2 Goethe, ÖSD and Telc Tests. "WhatsApp" is used for online conversation practice by them as well. All subjects (both males and females and different ages) have passed B1 test. The questionnaire includes 24 questions under 6 general categories of vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading and writing. The data was first subjected to descriptive statistics and then inferential statistics of the results were presented. Two types of analysis were done: a per-item analysis and a per-category analysis. The results of item and category analyses indicated that the learners' attitudes toward the effects of their membership in the groups and the exchange of information in them on the extension of their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and on the development of four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing were generally positive.

Keywords: Foreign language learning, Social networks, material, Goethe B1/B2 Tests, ÖSD test, Telc test;

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