Student Blogs
Intended students:
This is an intermediate-level writing class in a private university in the US. The students are from South Korea, and are part of a year-long exchange program. The class is a 1.5 hour class that meets 2 times a week. Students need a balance of improved accuracy and fluency.
Time needed:
(Throughout the whole semester, weekly)
Objectives:
To improve writing fluency by focusing on expressing individual ideas and experiences
To create teacher-student rapport, as well as rapport amongst the students
To encourage learner autonomy by choosing their own writing content
To encourage reflective writing by writing meaningful content and monitoring their learning experience
Procedure:
Step 1: Have students create their own blogs using domains such as Blogspot, Weebly, Wordpress, etc. Demonstrate how to make a blog in class (note: using a specific blog domain may be helpful to address everyone’s questions).
Step 2: Have students email their blog URL, and place all of their blog websites on a main class website/blog so they can easily access their classmates’ blogs.
Step 3: Every week, students will need to write a blog entry (one paragraph) and submit it by Monday. The teacher will post three blog entry options on the class blog. (There will be two options such as giving advice for specific scenarios or sharing their most memorable birthday. The third option will be “choose your own topic.”)
Step 4: The students must reply to two of their classmates’ blog entries by Friday. The teacher will also post a reply at the end of the week.
Note: Towards the end of the semester, blog entry topics should include reflective posts such as describing their learning experience in the class, valuable experiences from their time abroad, what they hope to improve in as English learners, etc.
Material:
Class and student blogs (e.g., Blogspot, Weebly, Wordpress, etc.)
Evaluation:
References:
Dudeney, G., & Hockly, N. (2007). How to teach English with technology. Harlow, England: Pearson Education.
Intended students:
This is an intermediate-level writing class in a private university in the US. The students are from South Korea, and are part of a year-long exchange program. The class is a 1.5 hour class that meets 2 times a week. Students need a balance of improved accuracy and fluency.
Time needed:
(Throughout the whole semester, weekly)
Objectives:
To improve writing fluency by focusing on expressing individual ideas and experiences
To create teacher-student rapport, as well as rapport amongst the students
To encourage learner autonomy by choosing their own writing content
To encourage reflective writing by writing meaningful content and monitoring their learning experience
Procedure:
Step 1: Have students create their own blogs using domains such as Blogspot, Weebly, Wordpress, etc. Demonstrate how to make a blog in class (note: using a specific blog domain may be helpful to address everyone’s questions).
Step 2: Have students email their blog URL, and place all of their blog websites on a main class website/blog so they can easily access their classmates’ blogs.
Step 3: Every week, students will need to write a blog entry (one paragraph) and submit it by Monday. The teacher will post three blog entry options on the class blog. (There will be two options such as giving advice for specific scenarios or sharing their most memorable birthday. The third option will be “choose your own topic.”)
Step 4: The students must reply to two of their classmates’ blog entries by Friday. The teacher will also post a reply at the end of the week.
Note: Towards the end of the semester, blog entry topics should include reflective posts such as describing their learning experience in the class, valuable experiences from their time abroad, what they hope to improve in as English learners, etc.
Material:
Class and student blogs (e.g., Blogspot, Weebly, Wordpress, etc.)
Evaluation:
- It may become difficult to keep track of all of the blog entries. Adding the blogs on apps such as Flipboard may be helpful reminders.
- Assessment: This task focuses on fluency, so the assessment should not focus too much on accuracy, unless the blog topic specifically deals with a grammar point discussed in class.
References:
Dudeney, G., & Hockly, N. (2007). How to teach English with technology. Harlow, England: Pearson Education.