Create Your Own ESL/EFL Weblogs

TOPICS CALL Pages: Weblogs - Section 2


blogging

About Weblogs

What is a weblog?

Viewing weblogs

Deciding what kind of weblog you want to create?

Starting a weblog

Using weblog hosting tools to create your own weblog

Articles of Interest

The Art of Blogging
George Siemens

Writing with Weblogs
Kristen Kennedy

Weblogs for Use with ESL Classes
Aaron Campbell

Creating a Writing Course Using Class and Student Blogs
Andrew Johnson



Viewing Weblogs (Blogs)

To get an idea of some ways you can use weblogs in ESL/EFL, take a look at various types of weblogs created by both educators and students. Read several entries in each one to determine the purpose of the weblog.

Blogs Used as Components of ESL/EFL Classes

  • Our Class 2007
    Rosa Ochoa creates class blogs where she sets up weekly work for her students in Sydney, Australia.There are quizzes, competitions, students' own texts, students' recipes, photos, videos, and a lot more. Check out Rosa's
    Our Class 2006 and Our Class 2005 blogs, as well.
    Links to student blogs include
    Ivy's Blog and Marcelino's Blog.

  • Bee Online
    A Meeting Place for Students to Share Opinions and Discuss
    Barbara Dieu, who teaches EFL at the Franco-Brazilian school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, runs an interactive teacher-student weblog, creating a "forum" where her high school EFL students can post messages, writing freely about their ideas and opinions on topics they are working on in class. Links to individual student weblogs include
    Felipe's Weblog and Pineldo 2nd 1.

  • Globally Speaking
    Sandy Peters used this Weblog to provide her ESL students an out-of-class writing space where they can express their ideas and opinions on topics of global interest. Short posts on topics of interest, along with related photos, prompt student comments (click on Comments at the end of each post to read the student contributions. There are links to student Weblogs. Sample student logs:
    Jiro and UiKi.

  • A Look at Bullying
    Sandy Peters runs this weblog to help university ESL students explore and comment on aspects an issue of consequence: school bullying.

  • Spotlight on Rwanda
    Sandy Peters created this weblog to help university ESL students explore and comment on the issue of genocide in Rwanda.

  • PI BW Class Blog
    Karen Haines used this blog with her students in Auckland, New Zealand. She links to her own blog,
    Karen's Blog. Sample student blogs include: JiYoung's Blog and Sherry ^_^.

  • ESL Intermediate Low at Pacoima Skills Center
    This blog is for the adult immigration students in Barry Bakin's ESL Intermediate Low Class at Pacoima Skills Center in Los Angeles. JHe uses photos, videos, online links to readings, and prompts to engage his students.


Blogs Describing ESL/EFL Teaching Experiences/Presenting Classroom Activities and Games

  • ESL Madness
    Just a little help
    The author created this blog in order to help her organize her thoughts about teaching. Many teaching activities and games are presented, primarily for elementary school students, but many are good for adult learners as well.

  • Teaching Experiences
    Maria Jordana is an EFL teacher in Spain. She writes about her teaching experiences while working with EFL students at pre-intermediate and intermediate levels.


Blogs That Present Learning Resources of Interest to Teachers and Learners of English

  • Dave Kees - Teach English in China
    Dave Kees challenges teachers to think about teaching and student-teacher interaction. There are lots of articles on teaching methodologies, teacher development, and ways to make lessons better learning experiences.

  • The English Blog
    For learners and teachers of English
    Jeffrey Hill's weblog provides links to English learning resources and other items of interest for teachers and learners of English.


Blogs to Learn English in Unusual Ways: Haiku

  • Feel the Season
    A collection of seasonal diaries by Japanese college students students
    Ozeki Shuji
    runs this weblog. His Japanese EFL college students write seasonal essays and respond to digital photos with Haiku. Their writings focus on daily life, the arts, books, food, music, shopping, sports, and other topics.


Continue to section 3: What kind of weblog do you want to create?  

 

Creating ESL/EFL Weblogs - TOPICS CALL Pages - ©2003-2008 - Created by Sandy Peters - topics.mag@gmail.com