Reading Prompt 2 reply

The eight optimal conditions for classroom language learning Egbert describes can be fulfilled with blogging as a tool. With my limited blog knowledge, an example is the best way for me to illustrate such. With college level ELLs in the U.S., a blogging activity could be the recent Haiti earthquake. An authentic task, the teacher posts two questions: How does the tragedy in Haiti make you feel? What word(s) would you use to describe what happened there? After all have read the questions, the teacher elicits 3-4 students to answer on the class blog, perhaps due the next day of class. The next step is for the remaining students to individually read the posted answers and individually choose one to comment on, perhaps due the following day of class. Responses could be agreeing, disagreeing, and/or adding new thoughts. Group discussion and feedback from the teacher and fellow students occurs next. Having already had lessons on adjectives, the language learning goal here is to use words that describe emotions and describe the event itself. If expanding the activity is feasible, divide the students into teams and assign a category of needs (e.g., food, bedding, clothes, and personal hygiene) necessary for the survivors. The task would be to develop, and then post, a prioritized list of items necessary to support ongoing recovery efforts. Language learning aspects of collaboration, critical thinking, and perhaps negotiation of meaning are employed here.
In using the blog as a tool for an ESL activity, it allows the ELLs to use the target language (TL) in a community forum. In my example, using adjectives and developing the item lists promotes creative and critical thought. This activity represents a real-world event emulating the challenges of self-expression and problem-solving (with the expansion activity). Lastly, a certain degree of autonomy is employed as the answers to the two questions are not restrictive. This is a text activity on the blog. As I learn more about blogging activities will probably become more creative.
Creating my blog and learning about blogging was a positive experience for me. Not a “blogger” myself, it’s important personally and professionally that I open my mind to Web blogs as they can be a valuable tool in the classroom. They certainly enhance and improve communication, be it between teacher and student(s) and between students. It seems due to their “public power” students will be more apt to do their best. In the ESL arena, I hope to blog about World Englishes, listening skills which I feel are neglected in many ESL classes, and the discussion about native speaker versus non-native speaker teachers. Beyond ESL, I may blog about traveling, country-western music and lifestyle, old Hollywood movies and perhaps current events.