Curating Language in the Wild: Social Media as Classroom Text
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Length:
3 Days
Times:
9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central Time)
Format:
Online–Synchronous
Instructor: Amanda Dalola
Amanda Dalola
This institute has been specifically designed for second language teachers who want to meaningfully incorporate social media resources into their teaching.
Participants will explore how platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Threads/Bluesky can serve as rich, dynamic repositories of authentic language use and cultural practices. Special attention is given to understanding how platform search and recommendation algorithms work, so that teachers can intentionally curate feeds and content that align with their linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical goals. The institute additionally emphasizes sustainable strategies for tagging, organizing, and archiving materials for long-term curriculum development. Time will then be spent designing learning activities that use real-world social media posts to develop interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication skills across proficiency levels. Through demonstrations, guided practice, and collaborative design, participants will leave with practical workflows and classroom-ready tasks that inspire student engagement and deepen linguistic and intercultural awareness.
This summer institute is co-sponsored by the Language Center at the University of Minnesota.
Target Audience:
This institute is designed for language educators in late elementary through postsecondary levels. It is not suited for teachers of very young children.
Program Schedule
9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central Time)
Day 1: Tuesday
Micro Texts, Major Takeaways (Bluesky/Threads)
- Exploring Microblogging Platforms
- Curating and Tagging Short-form Posts
- Designing Microblogging Activities
Day 2: Wednesday
Culture in Plain Sight (Instagram)
- Examining Images, Stories, and Reels as Cultural Evidence
- Using Search and Recommendation Algorithms
- Designing Visual-centric Activities
Day 3: Thursday
How Language Moves (TikTok)
- Understanding Duets, Stitches, Audio Trails, and Comment Sequences
- Archiving Short-form Video Content
- Designing Video-based Activities
Instructor
Amanda Dalola is the Director of the Language Center and an Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the production, perception, and digital media representations of sociophonetic variables and speech styles in French, Korean, and Norwegian, as well as on the pedagogical integration of social media in language learning. She is also deeply engaged in open educational practices. She co-authored #OnYGo, a multimodal OER for exploring multicultural French, and is currently developing Bánh Me, an OER for heritage learners of Vietnamese, reflecting her ongoing commitment to accessible and inclusive language education.
There wasn't a single dull moment in TeachTok: Social Media Hacks to Level Up Your Language Teaching Game - I found myself laughing, learning, and being moved by the stories we explored. I learned the technical aspects of Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok, but more importantly, I discovered how to use these platforms meaningfully in second language education. If you're ready to transform your language teaching and find new ways to engage students, this course will exceed your expectations.—Saena Dozier, 2025 institute participant
*IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THIS SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE INSTITUTE:
- This 3-day synchronous online institute will run from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central Time). The schedule includes many synchronous (real-time) presentations, group/partner work, and activities throughout the day. It also includes some off-screen time for independent work and a break for lunch each day.
- You must be available to participate for the entire day Tuesday–Thursday as all activities build on each other.
- Make sure you can meet the tech requirements for this institute.