Using Weblogs in Foreign Language Classroom:
Possibility and Challenges
The web 2.0 is developed from web 1.0 the web 2.0 is created for
interactive information such as weblog, wikis, and social network. It
also is recognized to have great potential for effective teaching and learning
foreign language.
Theoretical justification of using Web 2.0
Pedagogy has shifted from a cognitive
orientation to a social orientation, from context to naturalistic setting, and
L2 learning to L2 use. Together with these changes, concepts such as input,
interaction, authenticity, and collaboration are recognized as critical factors
to determine successful foreign language learning.
Web 1.0 which is
characterized as non-participatory, static, read-only entity. In contrast, Web
2.0 technologies provide environments where users can communicate and collaborate
in active manners. Thus, web 2.0 technologies provide language learners with
the potential for a collaboration-oriented and community-based learning
environment. The weblogs are best received in field of education in general and
foreign language education owing to their unique features.
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Table 1. Web
1.0 vs. Web 2.0
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Web 1.0
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Web 2.0
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Web as Read-only
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Web as Read-write.
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Web as Medium
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Web as Platform
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Web as geek and
techies
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Web of anyone
willing to try
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Web as Broadcast
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Web as conversation
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Web as static
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Web as Dynamic
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Characteristics of weblogs
Weblogs is defined as free
user-friendly websites that are easily created, maintained, and updated without
any knowledge of HTML, offer huge possibilities for innovative learning in
classrooms, across disciplines and in various levels.
3.1. Weblogs vs other Asynchronous Web-based commutation
tool
weblogs
share some similar features with other asynchronous communicative applications
such as email, discussion forums, and web pages. The weblogs can be viewed by
anyone on the web. Weblogs are also different from discussion forums in that
they are individually or group owned. Weblogs can easily include hyperlinks,
images and video clips while the forum mainly consists of plain texts or
attached files.
3.2. Unique Features of Weblogs
Individual
ownership: it is responsible for publishing the blog content, moderating
readers’ comments, deciding the rights of the readers, and customizing the look
and feel of the blog.
Updates displayed
in reverse chronological order: blog, there are chronological order of the post
places the latest posting at the top of the page. In the other hand, Older
posts appear further down the latest post. This systematic makes it possible
for users to access the latest posting immediately when logging on the blogs.
Archival of
postings: Weblogs auto-archived older posts. It will show only recent post but
the reader can get the older post by clicking a hyperlink or permalink
These unique features of weblogs have
various characters that attract language educators and the posting.
Relevance: Weblogs
allow teachers and learners to upload content relevant to their courses and
promote student-teacher, student-student, and student-others interactions about
the postings.
Accessibility: Weblogs
are accessible to whoever is interested in making contributions in a relatively
long period of time without moving physically or attending face-to-face classes
Interactivity: Weblogs can be accessible to other blogs through a list of
links to selected blogs, or an RSS feed enables bloggers to subscribe to other
blogs and monitor their activities.
Interest: Weblogs
give students equal chances to participate.
These
characteristics of weblogs not only facilitate exchanging information and
expanding communication but also provide learners with possibilities to enhance
their language learning.
Using Weblogs in Foreign Language Classroom
We use weblogs in foreign language
classroom as three means: the tutor blog, the learner weblog, and the class
weblog. Campbell (2003)
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Three Weblog types
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Type of weblog
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Characteristics
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Tutor
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administered by the instructor
encouraged learners to do reading
practice and explore links for self-study
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Class
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administered by the entire class
encourages learners to post
messages, images and links pertinent to classroom discussion topics
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Learner
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administered by the learner
encourages individual learners to
post their thoughts about the reading
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4.1. Possibility and
Challenges of Tutor Weblog
A tutor weblog can have possible three
functions:
o It
can function as a pace through which teacher provide learner.
o It
can function as platform to help learner explore the web resources in a guided
manner.
o It
can use to allow learners to express their idea and opinion.
4.2 Possibilities and
Challenge of learner blogger
A learner blogger is used for online journal that an
individual can update with his or her words, ideas, and thought.
4.3. Possibilities and
Challenge of Class weblogs
Class weblog can be best used as a collaborative
discussion space, an extra-curricular extension of the classroom, encouraging
students to reflect more in depth on the topics dealt with in class. In
addition, class blog can be useful for facilitating project based language
learning. Furthermore, class blogs can serve as a medium for cultural exchange
through writing. Learners can interact with people in other countries if the
situation permits. Though this interaction, learners can practice their foreign
language skills as well as acquire intercultural awareness. Participation in an
authentic use of the target language for real communication.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Weblog
o Advantages
of Using Weblog
o Weblogs
provide an authentic learning environment for real communication.
o Weblogs
function as online learning logs where learners record their learning
experience. For teachers, this function can be used as e-polio that record
learners’ progress and encourage learners to reflect on their learning
experience.
Weblogs
enable learners to create social networks and learning communities, so this
collaboration can motivate learners to improve their writing skills
With these advantages, the multi-media features of weblogs
enable language learners to improve all of language’s skill because audio and
video blogs can provide listening material together with cultural aspects
related to the target language country. Weblogs integrated in foreign language
classes are reported to provide the learners with a practicing environment
where learners can think, write, and reflect through interaction with their
instructor and peers, and as a result can enhance their writing skills.
Using
weblog in foreign language classroom:
o enhances
reading comprehension, improves students’ writing skills and abilities.
o develops
writing and learning strategies.
o has
a positive impact on the content and increases the amount of writing of
learners?
o makes
students pay close attention to the formal aspects of writing, both in terms of
word choice, structure, and word spelling, attending to sentence and paragraph
structure as well as adapting academic style, register and appropriate word.
o provide
the student’s opportunity to write freely without being judged for their
grammatical mistakes.
o develops
ideas and provide feedback for the authors.
o enhances
student analytical and critical thinking skills.
o increases
student motivation in reading and writing, promotes learner independence and
autonomy, and enhances students’ analytical and critical thinking skills.
o disadvantages
of Using Weblog
o students
with low English proficiency may experience difficulty in putting their ideas
in order.
o students
lack confidence in their writing ability
These problems suggest that the instructor should take a more
active role in assisting students during the blogging. On the other hand, it is
difficult to keep students’ interest in blog-based tasks. Thus, teachers guided
learners to form the habit of using them for weblogs to work best:
o Teachers
should respond to students’ posting quickly, asking questions about their
postings to stimulate them to keep writing.
o Students
should be actively encouraged to read and respond to their peers.
o Writing
to the blog could be required as part of the class assessment.
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