| Blogging for ELT | | | | you can document "the good, the bad and the ugly" of |
| In a previous article post we discussed, "Five Reasons | | | | your English language teaching situation on a daily or |
| that Every EFL Teacher Should Blog". In this article | | | | weekly basis. It can serve as an indicator of your |
| post, we'll continue with the overall theme of blogging | | | | growth as an ELT professional and a private person |
| for English and foreign language teaching professionals | | | | as well. It will document your changing thoughts, |
| with three initial benefits of blogging for ELT. Using | | | | opinions and ideas for growing and improving in your |
| Blogger or Word Press as free platforms for blogging, | | | | profession, as well as your life. |
| you do not need to have extensive knowledge and | | | | Benefit 3: Blogging Forces You to Grow |
| computer skills to set up, operate, post to and enjoy | | | | Wherever you are now, whatever it is that you do, |
| your own personal blog. | | | | blogging will be a constant aid in your personal and |
| Benefit 1: Blogging Attracts Competent, Like-Minded | | | | professional development. You'll need to learn new |
| Professionals | | | | skills, update others and eliminate outdated thinking and |
| Just who are you writing for then? Well you, of course, | | | | practices. You'll read more, research more, write more. |
| first and foremost. However, when you write and post | | | | You'll also laugh more, learn more and hopefully, cry |
| passionately on a topic a funny thing usually happens, | | | | less due to having an outlet to share when you need it. |
| you'll soon attract others who share similar outlooks, | | | | Are you now living in a new or foreign country? Great! |
| goals, triumphs, problems, trials and tribulations as you | | | | Then blog it. Remember, you can also add digital |
| do. They will in turn, share with you on how they cope | | | | photographs, digital sound clips and even videos to |
| with similar occurrences on their end, what they think, | | | | your blog. Blogs are not just for writing in any more. |
| and what's worked - or not - for them in their | | | | Finally, The Blog`s the Thing ... |
| situations. You'll know, in no uncertain terms, that you're | | | | So there you have them. Three benefits blogging can |
| not alone. | | | | give to English or foreign language teaching |
| Benefit 2: Blogging is an Excellent Way to Document | | | | professionals. Add to these the "Five Reasons that |
| Your Experiences | | | | Every EFL Teacher Should Blog" and you're out of |
| Do you now keep a diary, a teaching journal or an | | | | excuses not to get started now. How about it? Now |
| ELT scrapbook? How about your EFL learners? If you | | | | are you ready to start an ELT blog of your own? |
| or they do, or you have thought about doing so, your | | | | What are you waiting around for? |
| blog can serve as your own personal space. There | | | | |