Well, anyway... I am sure you already know all about how technological improvements affected teaching. You are probably using Facebook, Twitter, Prezi, YouTube and many more for your classes... And on many social networking websites we are already able to share stuff and make comments etc. So you may ask... Why should I also ask my students to start a blog? I have a lot to do as it is.
Here is why:
People, especially young people, have a lot of thoughts to share. I can't say all their thoughts are worth sharing :) But if they must share... why not sharing them in English?
You may say, but they are already doing it through other social networks. In fact, you feel like you are one "tweet" away from getting crazy! Sorry, but you are a super teacher now. So, suck it up :)
I happened to think that writing a blog feels like writing on a dairy. It is more personal than writing a tweet or a Facebook status. So, even if you have shy students in your hands, it will be a great way for them to start to express themselves. It is a great chance for your students to read, write and communicate better.
Also not everyone has to see what we share here ---which is good. I am sure my teachers don't need to know about my dating life that much. However, they may be more interested in what I think about a method in ELT. In this respect, following my blog is going to be much more efficient than following me on Twitter. Also, most students tend to use their mother tongues on social networks. So having a special area in which they will use only English seems good.
So far, we talked about why your students should have a blog. Now let's talk about why YOU, as a teacher, must have a blog.
First of all, the best way to teach something is to show it! So you must have a blog which can be an example to your students.
Secondly, your blog will provide a space where you can work together with your students. They will be able to read your instructional tips, share their ideas with you and ask questions to learn better.
Also don't forget that using a blog will make things easier for you as well. For example, you can post your office hours from your blog, you can ask your students to write as a comment when they will be visiting you, so that there won't be a hundred students in your small office at the same time :) It is easier than using email because students will be able to see the schedule too and you won't have to answer each of them separately.
Ok, so... How can we use blogs in our classes? Don't forget that the things you can do are only limited by your imagination. I will just write some suggestions:
- We can use them to inform students about homeworks, class requirements etc.
- We can give differents topics every week and ask them to write about it. Topics don't have to be boring or serious. Actually the funner, the better :)
- Then we will tell them to read all the works that their friends shared and comment on them. Great way to practice writing and reading. This way students learn from each other. We can also give feedback from there.
- We can encourage them to follow other blogs related to ELT.
- We can start a discussion through their blogs and can even continue those discussions in our classroom.
I hope I convinced you to use blogs in your ELT classes :)
Hope to see you in my diner again! Take care...
