Instagram in the Foreign Language Classroom: Considerations and Limitations

Social networking sites have become part of the daily life of many individuals, including learners and teachers, who use technology and web-based social platforms as means of regular digital interactions. The popularity of social networking sites has dramatically increased over the last decade, especially among younger adults. Nevertheless, despite their potential of creating connections between people, languages, and cultures they have yet to be widely embraced in the context of language education. Furthermore, while research studies have focused on the integration of Facebook and Twitter in the language classroom setting, there is a lack of studies discussing the use of Instagram to foster cultural understanding. This exploratory paper addresses this gap by discussing how Instagram may be used by language learners to explore different cultures, create e-portfolios, and promote the understanding of diverse habits and practices.