Many second language learners spend many years searching for their writing voice in the second language while some never find it. I was overwhelmed with joy to see a low performing student be able to completely and utterly express himself in writing. I feel like he would have never found that voice without the use of the blog. When students write in a paper journal it is a way to put emotions and information on a page, but it sometimes becomes nonsensical because you view it more as something for yourself. It is a great tool for clearing the mind for writing, but not always the best option to express ones self formally for an assignment.
With a blog, a student views it through the writing process with the posting being the final published copy. Using the blogger application in itself follows the writing process making the students draft first then publish when they are sure they a ready to post. This step requires the students to organize their thoughts clearly and self edit before posting. Sometimes I would check a draft lingering on the blog and found many students did in fact self edit before publication, something I am sure they would not do with a paper journal.
After this experience, I have been brainstorming other ways to use blogs in my classroom. For next year, I am considering using blogs as an online portfolio or a way for students to look back and view their progress as a writer and help further develop their own writing voice. Eventually, when I find myself back in an American middle school classroom, I will look back on this amazing tool and utilize it for years to come.
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