Weblogs
enhancing EFL students' English language learning
students’
perceptions of and attitudes. The data that derived from short questionnaires,
interview questionnaires and student Blogs. The findings a tool for the
development of their English, writing, reading, vocabulary and recording their learning
experience. Weblog giving an opportunity and freedom for self-expression,
writing for both a local and global audience. It can provide learning
motivation and opportunities for authorship and readership.
A
Weblog is a free user-friendly technology that is easily created, tailored, used,
maintained, and frequently updates. Weblog is enhanced by its ‘multimodality’ includes
texts, colors, images, audio and video files.
3
types of Weblog used in the language classroom are the tutor Blog, the learner
Blog, the class Blog. There are several reasons that Weblogs have been asserted
to have potential values in English language education. These are provide
opportunities for real communication in an authentic environment, raise an
awareness of having an authorship and readership. Additionally, Weblogs enhance
student analytical and critical thinking skills. Blogging enables the creation
of social networks and communicate their ideas and thoughts.
The study
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 aged from 22 to 24 year.
2.2 Method
The students were enrolled in the Reading and Writing to develop reading skills in understanding and develop thinking skills and skills in writing. The students met in class twice a week. Short questionnaire which aimed to elicit students’ profile, experience of Internet and Weblog use and perceptions of adventages and disadvantages and develop students’sene of ownership in using and maintaining their Blogs.
Findings
Many students commented that they gained extensive knowledge and experience from Weblog use to create and decorate their Blogs, create and share their profiles, express their ideas, record their memories and experiences and exchanges ideas and opinions.
3.2 Potentials values of Weblogs
First, 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 communicating with other people. Weblogs enhanced their writing and reading skills, and vocabulary development and increased motivation for and confidence in writing and learning English.
3.3 Student reactions to Weblog use
Most students Indicated their intention to continue using Weblogs. Students would like both the teacher and the classmates to read and add comments. Weblog use Internet access, digital divide, technological skills, limited English language competence and a physical-related problem. Some students listed some disadvantages of Weblogs such as time investment, plagiarism, neglect of teacher feedbacks and correction and Bloggers’ privacy.
3.4 The Blogs
In the first and seventh Blog entries the students recorded their teaching practicum experiences at secondary schools, and New Year's activities, respectively.They documented their memories and experiences, expressed their attitudes and feeling. In blog entries 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 the students expressed their ideas and opinions about what they had read. In the last blog entry, the students published their reflections on their learning experiences from the course. They reflected on the benefits of the course, their attitudes and feeling towards the course and the instructor.
Discussion and Conclusion
Weblogs can provide an exciting and motivating learning environment where students have a sense of ownership and readership. Blogs are recommended to foster students' English language development in a genuine learning environment.
Most students Indicated their intention to continue using Weblogs. Students would like both the teacher and the classmates to read and add comments. Weblog use Internet access, digital divide, technological skills, limited English language competence and a physical-related problem. Some students listed some disadvantages of Weblogs such as time investment, plagiarism, neglect of teacher feedbacks and correction and Bloggers’ privacy.
3.4 The Blogs
In the first and seventh Blog entries the students recorded their teaching practicum experiences at secondary schools, and New Year's activities, respectively.They documented their memories and experiences, expressed their attitudes and feeling. In blog entries 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 the students expressed their ideas and opinions about what they had read. In the last blog entry, the students published their reflections on their learning experiences from the course. They reflected on the benefits of the course, their attitudes and feeling towards the course and the instructor.
Discussion and Conclusion
Weblogs can provide an exciting and motivating learning environment where students have a sense of ownership and readership. Blogs are recommended to foster students' English language development in a genuine learning environment.
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