Why Leave a Comment on ELT Blogs?

“Blogging is just creative writing in another form – it’s all about communicating & making links”

“I blog cos I want to express myself in spaces that are not being controlled and monitored – where I can be myself”

“I get a lot of information from blogging which I’d have to search around for – I get ideas”

The above quotes were collected from students of mine (July, 2009) after Burcu asked me to write a contribution on leaving blog posts on EL blogs. I sent out an email, and this is what I got back – all my students’ ideas speak to me and are representative of how I feel too. Blogging is a new thing for me and something I got into in the last year whilst writing up my PhD and being away from my normal teaching/training heavy routine. In recent months I have done a 360º about turn on how positive I feel the experience can be. I have to admit that I used to be a bit cynical about blogging and responded to it much as I did to the idea of keeping a journal when I was a teenager – what is the point? How authentic is the process when you are just writing things that no-one is going to read? How useful is that and what does it achieve? Isn’t it all a bit self-indulgent? What I can definitely say is that actually being involved in blogging over the last year or so has really changed my perspective – not only on the process of blogging itself but on important issues in ELT that have been discussed in the blogosphere. I am about to set up my own blog which will be called “Critical Mass ELT”, after having realized I have become a serial contributor to other people’s blogs. Watch this space for more news – I am waiting for a bit of clear time to finish it. What I know is that I will really need people to contribute to my blog to make it work as it is the people and the communication that make blogging so vibrant.

I feel really honored therefore that Burcu thinks of me as someone who is in a position to comment on leaving blog post and that mine are posts she enjoys reading – given that I am such a novice compared to how active she herself is in the e-world, and how fantastic her own blogging contribution is. It made me realize that actually people do read each other’s posts and that there is real communication going on in the blogosphere that needs more careful thought than that which I used to give it in my dismissive pre-blogging days. It was really just that I didn’t understand what it had to offer. Recently someone on twitter described me as writing “mile long blog posts” so see how much I (and others) can change in relatively short spaces of time! This year I have had the pleasure of contributing to some really exciting discussions with on Critical DOGME, technology in teaching and developments in World English, and other contributors from around the globe added their thoughts to the discussions alongside me. I am also involved in blogs in areas of political and social interest that represent other parts of my life beyond ELT. Blogging knows no geographical boundaries and does not require a plane ticket to get involved. It does require computer equipment and an internet connection, but can also be done from public internet spaces if that equipment is out of people’s reach price wise.

So after Burcu’s request, I set about trying to pin down what is worthwhile about the experience, and what exactly it is that I get out of it. I would like to encourage as many EL teachers/trainers/writers to get involved in blogging as possible if you have something to say and enjoy thinking about EL teaching and learning – I think it is a valuable part of any professional development portfolio.

I think blogging offers us the chance to:

1. Contribute to important debates in equalized spaces with a range of knowledgeable people in ELT, both known and unknown. Real world conferences/events often mean rushed discussions, whereas blogs are not restricted by time and can go on as long as the contributors want.
2. Write down thoughts and feelings on issues in ELT without the immediate restrictions of formal writing that characterize written research – this for me is a very big pull as it provides the perfect balance to writing up my PhD
3. Get involved in fast paced and dynamic dialogues that might have several threads running at once – such innovative communication is a veritable feast of meaning for anyone interested in language
4. Get in touch with a wide range of opinion and perspective from classroom teachers, to teacher trainers, to researchers, to writers, to publishers – for me this is one of the biggest benefits as it enriches my understanding on different issues and widens the horizons of my thinking
5. Get involved in an ELT community! Sometimes as teachers we are diligently plugging away at our work in isolation – we need opportunities to share, discuss, debate those issues that are important in our profession – whether that be teaching ideas, thoughts about language acquisition or discussions about ideology. There is plenty of space for all kinds of topics
6. The final advantage for me is the chance to offer a critical perspective in discussion threads. Sometimes blogs stay safe with the ideas that circulate and it is important that they go outside their comfort zone from time to time. I like discussions that break new ground and really get to the heart of the matter.

Of course there are some things I don’t like about blogs which are:

1. Moderation queues – I think the best blogs are open source and allow people to contribute directly. When posts wait in a queue, the spontaneity of the discussion can be spoiled. Some blogs attached to organizations have this system which can be a bit annoying
2. Anonymous bloggers – I know all the reasons why people conceal their identities when blogging, but I still feel that it is better to let people know you are when you contribute – have the confidence to say what you want to say! But this is a subjective viewpoint and I understand people may have good reason to remain anonymous
3. Blog addiction – I have learned to pace myself and tend to focus only on one blog at a time! Otherwise blogging can be a bit addictive – everything in moderation. Each person knows their own limits on that score! Virtual dialogue is an enhancement and addition to face-to-face, not a replacement.

I’d like to finish off with a few tips about blogging that have really helped me. First join www.twitter.com – that’s where I get most of the info on good blog posts and new entries. Twitter is micro-blogging so it’s a good start! Make a note of the blogs that you like and revisit them often (in most cases you can also arrange to get an email roll when new entries are made so you can decide when to contribute). When you are ready to add into an interesting discussion, start with something small. I always write my posts in word first and then paste them in so I have a chance to consider important things like tone, style and clarity which often get overlooked in quick postings. Once you feel confident, the blogosphere is your oyster! Support bloggers by making those who take the initiative to set up their own blog feel proud of their work – in my experience people are thrilled to get contributors and to know that the effort they put in was worth it. Everyone has something worthwhile to say – and everyone has the right to be heard.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this short article – why not blog them back to me!

Sara Hannam is the Director of the English Unit at City College, Thessaloniki, Greece. Sara was the Associates’ Representative for IATEFL from 2006-9, and Vice-President of TESOL Northern Greece from 2003-5. Sara has a BA, MEd, CELTA, DELTA and is currently completing her PhD with the School of Education, University of Sheffield, UK. Sara is also involved in EL teacher development at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In her spare time, Sara likes to blog, twitter, listen to music, dance, spend time with family and friends and is the co-founder of the Campaign for Birth Choices in Greece www.birthchoices.gr

Twitter: @sjhannam
Email: hannam@city.academic.gr

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.