Why and How to Use Blogs with ESL Students

Blogs are web logs/journals that are maintained as a place to share thoughts and ideas, photos and videos, etc (like the one you're reading!). Readers can comment on entries (called posts).

There are several reasons to use blogs with ESL students. According to Lori Langer de Ramirez in Empower English Learners with Tools, blogs can be used for:

• Class debates
• Poetry collections
• Creative writing
• Novel or story reviews
• Commenting on essential questions
• Responding to photos of art, historical figures, and audio files of music or speeches
• A detective or suspense short story in installments (meaning different blog posts build on the story over time)
• Group discussions 
• Writing journals or diaries

Students can practice reading and writing as they write blog posts and comment on other's posts. They can also practice speaking and listening if audio or video files are part of the blog they are viewing or creating. Blogs can be great practice for all four language domains! 

One last feature of blogs that makes them a great tool for ESL students is that blog posts can serve as a sort of writing portfolio, whereby students can look back over earlier posts and see their growth in writing. Students also love being able to use technology and being independent in creating something of their own. 

Free Podcasts to Use with ESL Students

• 30 Newest ESL Podcasts A round-up of podcasts geared toward ESL learners from various sites
• Culips ESL Podcast A Canadian-based podcast of interesting topics discussed by 20- and 30-somethings
• English Media Lab The audio is not great, but the files include their own comprehension questions
• ESL Pod Offers podcasts in 2 formats – ESL Café is a longer episode that addresses various cultural topics and current events, the ESL Podcasts are short dialogues that focus on idioms and grammatical issues
• International Teachers of ESL Journal’s recommended listening sites A listing of various sites where one can find podcasts and transcripts on various topics
• Jokes in English Short jokes with transcripts compiled from various sources
• Learn English A-Z The site itself can be a little confusing, but the links to other sites, including ESL MP3s are helpful
• Talk English There are 34 conversations, mostly about college life, for listening practice with comprehension questions and transcripts
• Voice of America News Great resource for current events in the USA and the world. Also has many lessons on the meaning and origins of words and phrases.

Source: Lexington Public Library System

Wiki What?

You, like me only a short time ago, may have heard the word wiki and really have no idea what it is, but guess who does know? Probably your students. Technology is ever changing, and students have a way of staying on top of all of the latest technological developments. Tapping into this natural interest and excitement is a great way to engage your students.

In this post, I want to talk a little about wikis (because a little is all I know!) and how they might be beneficial in your classroom. I am deeply indebted to Lori Langer de Ramirez's book Empower English Language Learners with Tools From the Web. This short and highly relevant book has helped me to understand what a wiki is and how it can be integrated into your classroom.

A wiki is basically a webpage that, depending on your settings, can be edited by anyone. It is a quick and convenient way to add content to the Web. Basically, if you are authorized to make changes, you click the edit button, add the content or make the changes you would like, and then save. The wiki keeps a history of who made what changes to the site. You can also easily create links to new pages.

Wikis are nice because they provide a fast and convenient way for students to "work" together or with their teachers. Due to the lack of face to face time, they may also allow students, particularly ESL students, to interact and contribute more than they might otherwise.

De Ramirez gives the following suggestions for ways to use wikis in your classroom:

• Webquests
• Collaborative projects
• Coauthoring of essays or reports
• Interactive games (i.e. "what would you do next..." games)
• Planning for a class event
• Sign-up sheets for events
• Quick and easy Web sites with links and resources
• Online study communities
• A place to post and share student work

Join me in learning more about wikis and sharing tips and ideas on how to use them!