Facebook as a learning platform in Algeria during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

With the dawn of high-tech phone applications and the constant spread of internet uses, social media networking sites have become a refuge for billions of users. Facebook is the leading social media tool and this research work aims to project light into the teaching/learning situation in the Algerian context, mainly the teaching of the English Language. A total of 80 Master’s students and 10 teachers from the Department of English Language and Literature at Saida were used as a case study. This is to provide an inkling on the most employed social platform in the teaching and learning process during the absence of face-to-face interaction. The research tools were mainly a questionnaire, an interview and a post-test assessment. From our results, Facebook was the second leading e-learning tool after Moodle platform during the pandemic. The paper recommends some strategies on how Facebook can be employed effectively in the teaching and learning process after the pandemic.   Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, educational platforms, EFL learners, Facebook, higher education.