Duo Luan – @duoluan
Simon Horrocks – @horrocks_simon
University of Wales: Trinity Saint David

The experience of studying for a year abroad is a vital component of many modern language degree programmes (and other subject areas through schemes such as ERASMUS) and introduces a number of new dynamics into the learning experience. As well as being physically based in another country and cultural context, students need to adjust to a new institution and student community. In this situation, social media can prove useful to students by:

• maintaining connection with existing personal and learning networks, including students and staff from their home university
• sharing experience with other students on a year abroad
• engaging with students, staff and other communities of interest in a new country

In addition to the above, specific considerations need to be taken into account when looking at the role social media can play to support transnational learning in certain contexts. For instance, well established social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter that students may use in their home country are officially prohibited in other territories, notably China.  This was a major factor which influenced the introduction of social media support for BA Chinese Studies students from the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David (TSD) as they were about to begin a year abroad in June 2015.

To support students from TSD attending two different Chinese universities in the academic year 2015/16, a private group was established using the popular Chinese app WeChat. The group initially contained the students, teaching and administrative staff from TSD and a member of staff from one of the host Chinese universities. This paper will cover:

• How the app was used for peer-to-peer and student-staff engagement
• The linguistic practice of students using the app
• The specific benefits and constraints of using WeChat as a ‘native’ Chinese app
• Plans to develop use of social learning for the next cohort of students embarking on a year abroad

In addition to specific illustrations of how the group used the WeChat app, the paper will make use of detailed qualitative interviews with the students which will be conducted following their return to the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David in the autumn term. Students will be asked to reflect on their experience of participating in the WeChat group.  They will be encouraged to compare this with any other prior or concurrent social media experience and whether or not they will actively continue to use social media as part of their learning.

The paper will conclude with consideration of the benefits and challenges of using social media to support students during a year abroad, for language and other programmes. It will also consider implications for social learning design which may be transferable into other contexts where students and staff in higher education are part of distributed learning communities.