Week 2

Weblogs enhancing EFL students' English language learning

Abstract This study investigated the potential value of Weblog use on English language learning in the context of a university in Thailand. It examined students’ perception of and attitudes towards using Weblogs. A content analysis was used to analyses the data that derived from short questionnaires, interview questionnaires and student Blogs. Weblog as giving an opportunity and freedom for self-expression in English, writing for both a local and global audience, fostering creative, analytical and critical thinking skill. These findings suggest that Weblogs can provide learning motivation and opportunities for authorship and readership, as well as the development of writing and learning strategies, including critical thinking. 1.Introduction Three types of weblog used in the language classroom are the tutor Blog, the learner Blog, and the class Blog. Weblogs have been asserted to have potential values in English language education for several reason. Weblogs provide opportunities for real communication in an authentic learning environment. Weblogs raise an awareness of having an authorship and readership. Weblogs also offer an online alternative to learning logs. Weblog enhance student analytical and critical thinking skills. 2.The study 2.1 The setting and the participant The participants of this research were twenty undergraduate English major female students in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University. Their ages ranged from 22to24 years and they were in the fifth-year of their studies. These students undertook eight semesters of coursework and two semesters of teaching practicum in secondary school. 2.2 Method The research was conducted in the second semester of academic year 2008. The students were enrolled in the Reading and Writing for Academic Purpose 2 course. This course aimed to enable students to develop reading skill in understand a variety of written texts including academic resources and develop thinking skills and skills in writing different genres of text. Short questionnaires which aimed to elicit students’ profile, experience of Internet and Weblog use, and perception of advantages and disadvantage of Weblogs were administered to the students prior to the requirement of Blogging. The students read academic texts in class and performed related activities including exercises, summarising, discussion. They were required to create individual Blogs using a popular, free and easy-to-use Weblog provider Blogger.

3.Findings

3.1 Extent of Knowledge and Experience with Weblogs

Many students commented that they gained extensive knowledge and experiences from Weblog use. For example, they had opportunities to create and decorate their Blogs, create and share their profiles, express their ideas, record their memories and experiences, and exchange idea and opinions.

3.2 Potential values of Weblogs

Weblogs as a medium of self expression online and a tool to enhance English language development. Weblogs offered opportunities for writing and reading practice and communication with other people. Some students claimed that by using Weblogs, they could write more freely. All students claimed that Weblogs enhanced their writing and reading skill, and vocabulary development. Weblogs increased motivation for and confidence in writing and learning English.

3.3 Student reactions to Weblog use

Weblogs provided another modern mode of communication. Most students indicated their intention to continue using Weblogs if they had time. Many students liked their free choice of topics in writing Weblogs. They commend that they could write more freely, without pressures and anxieties in the comparison with their classmates. They noted that writing under the topics set by the teacher might be uninteresting, less motivating and difficult.

3.4 The Blogs

In the first and seventh Blog entries the students recorded their teaching practicum experiences. In Blog entries 2,3,4,5,6,8 and 9, the students expressed their ideas and opinion about what they had read. They reflected on the benefit of the course, their attitudes and feeling towards the course and the instructor.

The students created their profile, published text messages, added comments, decorated the layouts, and added photos of themselves, their family and friends, and downloaded pictures from different websites.

4. Discussion and Conclusion

In conclusion, Weblogs can provide an exciting and motivating learning environment where students have a sense of ownership and readership. They can be used to enhance student analytical and critical thinking skills, created social interactions between students and the instructor, students and their peers, and students and a global audience. If used in English classes, the issue of students' free choices of topics for Blogging, plagiarism, and neglect of teacher correction and feedback should be taken into consideration.