Pixel International Conferences

 The paper describes the author’s teaching practice and research in deployment of different types of ICT to teaching English as a foreign language in different formal and informal educational contexts in two university. The target audience is not homogeneous and represented by the first year students of two specializations- IT faculty and Design faculty. The paper dwells upon formal and informal levels of using ICT to enhance different language skills. Much attention is paid to students’ perceptions concerning different forms of ICT to develop and improve various skills. The paper represents quantitative and qualitative data on students’ attitudes to different ICT. The research analysis focuses on LMS products at a formal level, selected web-sites and wiki-sites at a semi-formal level and a social networking site at an informal level.  The statistics and qualitative findings are available to show the shift in students’ preferences to less formalized forms of ICT. The multi - phased research covers the period of three years. The author pays special attention to describing students’ perceptions on the acceptance of social networking site (SNS) as an educational tool to improve Academic writing skills in IELTS examination preparation.

Keywords: Formal and informal educational context, LMS, social media site, students’ perceptions , IELTS preparation