Blogs

 Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí

Faculty of Humanities

School of English

English 420

Formal Presentation Preparation Outline

Speaker’s Name: Marleny Gaitan and Nilka Rosas 

Topic: Blogs in Foreign Language Teaching 

Specific purpose: To inform my audience about using blogs in EFL classrooms and their significance in enhancing language teaching. 

Central idea: Blogs are powerful tools that enrich language acquisition by fostering interactive learning environments and encouraging self-directed language development among students.

1. Introduction 

1. Attention getter: Did you know that incorporating blogs in foreign language teaching can significantly enhance students’ engagement and language proficiency?

2. Thesis Statement: Today, we will discover how blogs are changing the game in language teaching, going beyond just being digital tools to becoming essential for interactive learning and language growth. 

3. Preview on main point: In today’s presentation we will discuss essential information about blogs such as the definition, types of blogs, the role of blogs in foreign language teaching, the advantages and disadvantages of using blogs for teachers and students, guidelines for creating and using blogs in the EFL classroom, blog assessment, some free apps to create educational blogs, various types of activities using blogs in EFL classrooms, and examples of blogs for EFL classrooms. 

Transition: Now, it is time to begin. 

2. Body 

1. Blogs have been defined by experts in many ways.

1. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica (2024), a blog is an online journal where an individual, group or corporation presents a record of activities, thoughts or beliefs. 

2. A blog is a place for promoting open dialogue and encouraging community building, where bloggers and commenters exchange opinions, ideas, and attitudes. 

1. It serves as a publication mechanism similar to a journal where instructional materials can be published, allowing students and teachers to make comments.

2.  Through blogs, teachers can publish articles, assign tasks, and identify students' learning needs. (Patnaik, P. 2008). 

Transition: Let’s continue with the different types of academic blogs.

2. Blogs come in various types, each serving different purposes. 

According to Campbel (2003), there are three types of blogs:

1. The tutor blog: these blogs are created by teachers to post links, instructions, class materials, additional resources, announcements, and assignments. 

2. The class blog: facilitate collaboration and interaction between students and the teacher. 

1. It functions as an extracurricular space where they can continue to share knowledge.

3. The learner blog: this type of blogs is where students create their own blogs under the guidance of the teacher. 

1. It allows students to practice writing and communication in English. 

Transition: After learning about the types of blogs, we will now look at the role of blogs in foreign language teaching.

3. According to Mevlana International Journal of English (2014), the role of blogs in foreign language teaching are the next: 

1. Blogs serve as platforms for fostering interactions among students and between teachers and students in the target language. 

2. Blogs offer opportunities for communication in the target language. 

3. Blogs facilitate reflective learning by providing learners with platforms to organize and reflect on their learning experiences and products.

Transition: Now we will tell you the advantages of using blogs in foreign language teaching for both teachers and students.

4. The use of blogs in foreign language teaching has numerous benefits.

1. According to Mevlana International Journal of Education (2014), these are some advantages for teachers: 

1. Blogs allow teachers to extend learning beyond the classroom. 

2. Using blogs increases motivation and enriches discussions and interactions for pre-service EFL teachers. 

3. Blogging updates teachers on technology and enhances their teaching strategies. 

4. Blogs help teachers critically reflect and improve their teaching methods. 

2. According to Mevlana International Journal of Education (2014), these are some advantages for students: 

1. Blogging encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning, fostering independent learning skills. 

2. Blogging improves students’ communication skills in the target language. 

3. Blogging allows students to reflect critically on their learning and identify strengths and areas for improvement.

4.  Blogging helps students express themselves and practice computer, writing, and grammar skills. (Patnaik, P., 2018).

Transition: Having understood the benefits, let’s now explore the disadvantages of using blogs for both teachers and students.

5. However, the use of blogs in foreign language teaching come with challenges. 

1. According to Mevlana International Journal of Education (2014), these are some disadvantages for teachers: 

1. Managing student blogs is time-consuming and challenging for teachers. 

2. Technical difficulties and lack of support can hinder effective blog use in teaching. 

3. Protecting student privacy and maintaining online security is complex. 

4. Encouraging equal participation in blogging activities can be difficult. 

2. According to Mevlana International Journal of Education (2014), these are some disadvantages for students: 

1. Students with lower language proficiency may struggle to write effectively on blogs. 

2. Technical challenges with blogging platforms can distract from language learning. 

3. Blogs may increase the risk of plagiarism among students. 

4. Delayed feedback on blogs can hinder the development of writing skills. 

Transition: Now that we know the disadvantages of using blogs, let’s explore the guidelines of using blogs in the EFL classroom. 

6. To maximize the benefits of using blogs in the EFL classroom, certain guidelines should be followed. 

According to Romo Báguena (n.d.), these are the guidelines to create a blog: 

1. Clear objective: start by defining the purpose of your blog. What do you want to achieve? 

2. Content organization. 

1. Keep your content concise and well-organized.

2.  Ensure readers can easily follow your blog without getting lost. 

3. Eye-catching elements

1. Use visually appealing design elements to encourage further reading. 

4. User friendly design.

1. Prioritize readability by choosing an appropriate font size and background.

5. Hypertext and multimedia content

1. Support for text, images, audio, video, animations, and links to other documents or websites. 

6. Chronological and thematic organization

2. Content in organized chronological with permanent links for each post. 

Transition: Now that we understood the guidelines for using blogs in the EFL classroom, lets continue with the blog assessment.

7. Assessing the impact of blogs in the EFL classroom is crucial to understand their effectiveness. 

According to Barraza (2024), these are the most important aspects for evaluating blogs:

1. Content organization: to assess the students’ understanding of the course material and their ability to present this information concisely and comprehensively.

2. Organization and structure: to evaluate the students’ ability to structure content logically, ensuring it is easy for readers to follow and understand.

3. Engagement and appeal: to ensure the blog is visually appealing and engaging, capturing the interest of the target audience.

4. Technical skills: to assess the students’ proficiency in using digital tools and multimedia to enhance their blog, including appropriate use of graphics, images, and layout techniques. 

5. Communication skills: to evaluate the clarity and effectiveness of the students’ written communication, ensuring it is free of errors and well-presented.

6. User experience: to ensure the blogs is user-friendly, with intuitive navigation and accessible design, allowing readers to easily find and understand the information presented. 

7. Timeliness and professionalism: to encourage students to manage their time effectively and submit their work within the required timeframe, demonstrating professionalism and responsibility.

Transition: Now we will know some free apps to create educational blogs.

8. These are some free apps to create educational blogs:

1. Medium is a popular online publishing platform that allows users to write, share, and read articles on various topics.

1. It’s widely used by writers, bloggers, and even students for sharing their work with a global audience (Medium, n.d.).

2. Edublogs is a blogging platform specifically designed for educational purposes. 

1. It allows teachers and students to create and manage blogs. (Edublogs, n.d.).

3. Blogger is a free platform by Google, allows users to create and publish blogs easily. 

1. It’s a good option for beginners who want to start blogging without any cost (Blogger, n.d.).

Transition: Now we will see the types of activities with blogs in the EFL classroom.

9. Here are some activities we can effectively integrate for the use of blogs in EFL classroom. 

According to Campbell (2003), these some activities that we can find in educational blogs:

1. The tutor blog: We can find lesson notes, exercises, link to educational resources, videos, and class activities.

2. The class blog: We can find group projects, discussions on class topic, comments, and feedback.

3. The learner blog: We can find post on personal interests, learning journals, reflections on language progress.

Transition: Now we understand the types of activities with blogs in the EFL classroom, let’s finish with examples of blogs for EFL classroom. 

10. These are some examples of blogs for EFL classrooms: 

1. Tutor blogs: 

https://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/

2. Class blogs:

3. Learner blogs:

3. Conclusion 

1. Signal closing: As we wrap up, let's reflect on the transformative potential of blogs in foreign language teaching.

2. Final statements: 

1. In conclusion, blogs are powerful tools that enrich language acquisition by fostering interactive learning environments and encouraging self-directed language development among students. 

2. By leveraging the benefits of blogging, educators can help students develop essential language skills and become more confident and competent communicators in their target language.

References

Ahluwalia, G., Gupta, D., & Aggarwal, D. (2011). The use of blogs in English language learning: A study of student perceptions. Profile Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 13(2), 29-42.

Blogger. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.blogger.com

Campbell, A. P. (2003, February).  Weblogs for use with ESL classes. The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. IX, No. 2.  from http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Campbell-Weblogs.html

Dennis, M. Aaron (2024, March 29). blog. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/blog

Edublogs. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://edublogs.org

Medium. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://medium.com

Mevlana International Journal of Education. (2014). Vol. 4(1), pp. 244-259. Available online at http://mije.mevlana.edu.tr/ http://dx.doi.org/10.13054/mije.13.79.4.1

Patnaik, P. (2018). Role of Blogs in English Language Teaching and Learning: An Inclusive Tool for ESL Learners. IMPACT: International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Literature (IMPACT: IJRHAL), 6(1), 135-138. ISSN (P): 2347-4564; ISSN (E): 2321-8878. © Impact Journals.

Romo Báguena, M. (n.d.). The use of blogs in the EFL classroom. [Master's thesis, Universidad de Zaragoza]. Facultad de Educación.

Santoso, E. (2023). Students’ perception on blog based liveworksheet in English language learning at Senior High School of Sport Lampung. En R. Perdana et al. (Eds.), ICOPE 2022, ASSEHR 746 (pp. 572–581). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-060-2_53

Workshop

 Creating Materials for Curious Minds

Creating materials for curious minds in the realm of language teaching involves designing engaging and interactive resources that inspire a love for words and communication. Handcrafted activities, such as vocabulary flashcards and story-building kits, allow learners to play with language in a tactile and imaginative way. 

Objective:

The objective of our blog is to provide comprehensive resources, innovative teaching strategies, and practical tips on utilizing diverse materials to enhance language acquisition and foster an inclusive learning environment.