1. Weblogs:
a tool for EFL
interaction, expression,
LOGO
and self-evaluation
Claudia Trajtemberg
Androula Yiakoumetti

2. Back Ground
In the last decade, L2 learning with
computer has shifted
Individual Interaction Student-centered
Work among
Learners pedagogy
Blogs can potentially promote
collaboration & interaction among L2
participants
Experimental studies regarding the
interaction strategies are not enough

3. Aim of Article
To identify the interaction strategies
 Teacher-initiated
 Student-initiated
To examine whether blog technology
promotes
 Interaction
 Self-expression
 Self-evaluation
 A sense of language progress

4. Blogs & Language Learning
Blogs are inherently interactive
 Posting (writing), bloggers’ self-
reflection, other bloggers’ reaction
Bloggers actively engage with each
other’s writing activities
Less knowledge learners can learn
from advanced learners

5. Project (At Univ. of Chile)
Elective course aimed to develop
students’ low-level English
Focused on general English
Required to carry out 13 tasks on
their blogs
16 students, Age 20-22
native Spanish speaker
1 teacher, native English speaker

6. Teacher-Initiated Interaction
1. Questions in comments
 Triggered responses from most
students
2. Witty & humorous comment
 Students are motivated to respond
in a relaxed & joking manner
3. Giving examples from personal
interests
 Triggered a sense of belonging that
motivate students to leave comments

7. Student-Initiated Interaction
1. Encouraging comments on friend’s
blog
2. Comments including own opinions
 Product of atmosphere of
collaborative learning
 Considerable learner’s autonomy

8. Self-Expression
At the beginning
the blog is a course requirement
By the end
enjoyed writing the blog
English became both the medium &
object of expression

9. Self-Evaluation & Sense of Language Progress
By looking at their writing week after
week
 Realized own achievements
By doing tasks with a clear
communicative purpose
 Developed a sense of progress & self-
evaluation
Anyone can read students’ writings
 Motivation to improve their English

10. The Efficacy of Blogs
Transformed activities of reading &
writing into more engaging tools for
learners
Writing in L2 was less threatening
Writing English became a real
communicative purpose
Students’ desire to learn was
reignited

11. Conclusion
Blogs are useful in EFL
assist in motivating learners…
 To use language for a real
communicative purpose
 To write in English in a new style
 Because of its interactivity
promote …
 Self-expression
 Self-evaluation
 A sense of language progress