Using blogs in EFL classes

To begin, the information mentioned a bove is a personal work, but the original ideas are taken from a website http://www.topics-mag.com/call/blogs/viewing_blogs.htm. It was very useful to browse this website, since a blog is a new concept to mefor discovery.

Blogs are doors to the rest of the world

A blog (a weblog) is a type of website that is individual and offers its users with many features. Once you sign up for a blog you will get the chance to describe yourself, write about your hobbies, etc. Blogs are widely used in EFL classes and created by educators and students. Students will find it enjoyable to post their writings, poems, literature analysis, lessons discussions, etc.

Before creating your blog you've to decide on its type??

According to the website I've browsed, there are three types of weblogs for using in EFL classes:

The tutor blog.
The learner blog.

The class blog.

Since we are in Tefal class, we would like to create an educational blog for everyone in the class in order to find fair chances to enrich their learning experiences. ((Blog-based learning)) is the one we look for.

1.The tutor blogs:

They gives daily reading practice to the learners, if the required reading passages in the class are boring or difficult the reading posted on the blog will be much easier and kind of their interest. The teacher might relate the content to links for further reading or simple definitions to the concepts they have taken in the class. The teacher might link the content to relevant information in their native language where they can explore and get benefits. They will find it easy and interesting to explore. Such features won't be offered in classrooms.
They also serves as reminder of learners assignments, projects…etc. The teacher might post links where they can have online quizzes, practice listening, and so on. 

 2. The Learner blogs:

These types of blogs invlove creating individual blog, so everyone has a personal online space. Such blogs allows online discussions and comments. Anyone who is authorized to visit her/his colleagues websites (blogs) will get a chance post comments that will be shared with the rest who access them. The teacher himself can review what learners have written and clarify when needed.

 

3.The class blogs:

These blogs are more used in collaborative classes. Learners can post pictures, messages, and so on, that are related to the topic of the class. They can develop researches and writing assignments that might be done online. The good point is that learners might exchange language with international learners. It would be something nice to see how people of different nationalities respond to language input.

These type of blog serves a lot of purposes.

Why do we have to create blogs in our EFL classes?

We have to create blogs to:

• Publish work that have done in the class.
• Complete class assignments.
• Discuss activities that took place in the class.
• Complete projects.
• Create a portfolio that contain all work learners have done in their studies.
• Write comments and opinions on the discussed content.
• Allow authentic material to exist.
• Show reaction on the content of studies.
• Connect the pervious learning experiences to the new.

 Advantages of using blogs in EFL classes:

• Blogs can motivate learners and prepare them for the class.
• They give learners ownership of the work.
• They focus on the end product of learning.

• They give the teacher the chance to learn from their learners.
• Enhance class discussion.
• They cost nothing.
• They allow exchange information, thoughts and ideas.
• They inspire learners.
• They are used for any work.
• They allow instant publishing to the Internet.
• They initiate collaborative learning environment.
• They are exciting and others will find it enjoyable to comment on your work.
• They encourage a habit of self study.
• They can be used as references.

• Challenges/disadvantages of Blogs:
• We can't trust the quality of the posted work.
• Learners might fail to access blogs.
• We can't ensure students engagement.
• It will be demotivated and boring if the comments are not relevant to the content.
• It would be very difficult to correct students work becasue correction supposed to be done before posting on the blog.
• There isn't privacy, anyone who access to the web can read a blog.
• In my opinion blogs can't be used in traditional classes, because they might confuse learners who will find it difficult to concetrate on the text books or ideas.
• If people of different background comment on learners work, this might lead to misunderstanding between them.

You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great

Is it a motivating quote??? You are the one to decide