Weblogs: a tool for EFL interaction, expression, and self-evaluation

1. Weblogs:a tool for EFL interaction, expression, and self-evaluation Claudia Trajtemberg AndroulaYiakoumetti

2. Back Ground • In the last decade, L2 learning with computer has shifted • Blogs can potentially promote collaboration & interactionamong L2 participants • Experimental studies regarding the interaction strategies are not enough

3. Aim of Article • To identify the interaction strategies • Teacher-initiated • Student-initiated • To examine whether blog technology promotes • Interaction • Self-expression • Self-evaluation • A sense of language progress

4. Blogs & Language Learning • Blogs are inherently interactive • Posting (writing), bloggers’ self-reflection, other bloggers’ reaction • Bloggers actively engage with each other’s writing activities • Less knowledge learners can learn from advanced learners

5. Project (At Univ. of Chile) • Elective course aimed to develop students’ low-level English • Focused on general English • Required to carry out 13 tasks on their blogs • 16 students, Age 20-22 native Spanish speaker • 1 teacher, native English speaker

6. Teacher-Initiated Interaction • Questions in comments • Triggered responses from most students • Witty & humorous comment • Students are motivated to respond in a relaxed & joking manner • Giving examples from personal interests • Triggered a sense of belonging that motivate students to leave comments

7. Student-Initiated Interaction • Encouraging comments on friend’s blog • Comments including own opinions • Product of atmosphere of collaborative learning • Considerable learner’s autonomy

8. Self-Expression • At the beginning the blog is a course requirement • By the end enjoyed writing the blog English became both the medium & object of expression

9. Self-Evaluation & Sense of Language Progress • By looking at their writing week after week • Realized own achievements • By doing tasks with a clear communicative purpose • Developed a sense of progress & self-evaluation • Anyone can read students’ writings • Motivation to improve their English

10. The Efficacy of Blogs • Transformed activities of reading & writing into more engaging tools for learners • Writing in L2 was less threatening • Writing English became a real communicative purpose • Students’ desire to learn was reignited

11. Conclusion Blogsare useful in EFL • assist in motivating learners… • To use language for a real communicative purpose • To write in English in a new style • Because of its interactivity • promote … • Self-expression • Self-evaluation • A sense of language progress