The use of blogs in teaching and learning:

the case study of a literature module

ANNIE GIRARDIN-HALPINASSOCIATE TEACHER

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK

Literature: a challenge in teaching foreign languages

A welter of reasons for, or benefits of, teaching literature in the FL classroom have been proffered by a variety of authors. (Sell)

Cultural enrichment

motivation

Linguistic model

Language acquisition

and Language awareness

Interpretative abilities

literature in foreign language courses

Convenience

Literature in foreign languages

Difficulties for learners Students need to read for themselves, think critically about what they read, and then express and develop their responses through discussing and writing Nance, Kimberly A. Teaching Literature in the Languages, Prentice Hall, Boston, 2010

• Linguistic competence• Scarce prior exposure to literary works • Reluctance to express one’s opinion• Heavy reliance on lecture

notes• Lack of critical and analytical skills

QUESTIONS FOR TEACHERS/LECTURERS

How can we teach students to be independent, critical, logical and analytical in their thinking?

How can we encourage them to devote time to self-learning?

Using Blogs as a motivator

Definition of a Blog in a language learning context

“Short for weblog, a blog is […] a venue in which they [language learners] can reflect, comment, question, review and communicate – outside the classroom in an authentic environment.” Pinkman 2005, p.13.

And for our purpose, helping them to read and follow the literary text.

Educational tool

Example of classroom bloggingin UL

4th year students2 modules1. FR4147 (1st semester of 4th year –

various courses)2. FR4928 (2d semester of 4th year –

Business students with French)Literature component of the module – 1

hour out of 4 contact hours12 weeks semester – 30 %

Book studiedMeurtres pour mémoire, Didier DaeninckxCrime fiction genre215 pages11 chaptersDescriptiveLots of cultural referencesHistorical factsClassroom discussion in the target

language

Difficulties for students

Linguistically and culturally challenging

eg.: Said et Lounès garèrent la quatre-chevaux à la Villette, boulevard Mac-Donald, juste après l’arrêt du PC puis ils se dirigèrent vers la bouche du métro.

Before introducing the blog

Assessment of the literature component

Oral presentation in class about an extract (on chapter studied that week) 10 %

End of semester essay or commentary of an extract in class 20 %

Disadvantages of oral presentation

Class time consumingLess time to explain a complex bookIndividual student involved once in the

semesterLess motivated students will only work for

this presentation and be passive for the rest of the semester

Introducing blogging 3 years ago

Individual blogStudents have the choice of the blog

platform, but are encouraged to use wordpress.com

Students give the blog’s link to the lecturer who will post them on SULIS

Students are encouraged to comment on their classmates’ blogs

Students’ blogs’ linkson SULIS

INSTRUCTIONS FROM LECTURER

Write 10 posts in French during the semester (diary?)

100 words per post (1000 words for the semester)Summarize briefly the chapter discussed in classReflect and analyse a point

◦Characters◦The crime genre◦How the author criticizes the society◦Analyse the style ◦Comment on an extract etc.

Add pictures, audio/video documents

Marking and feedback

The blog is assessed at the end of the semester

1.5% per post = 15%

Feedback – regularly◦On blog as a comment◦In class

Examples of good blogs

https://christinafellis.wordpress.com/https://celinelaing.wordpress.com/https://13157779blog.wordpress.com/blog

/

Survey sent to students

SURVEY ONLINE

26 ANSWERS

13 positive vs 6 negative comments

It has helped me to gain a better understanding of the book. These blogs were extremely helpful when writing the essay at the end of the semester…

At the time it seemed like a pain, but I have never known a book so well by the end

I like the fact that it's online- usually my French copies end up shoved in a box never to be seen again..

I prefer this to a presentation because it keeps me interested in reading the book and not worrying about standing in front of the class.

I think this assessment is great for improving your French. It is a good experience as it

makes you learn the material over the semester instead of learning it all at the last minute.

It was far too time consuming and no learning advantages

Really stressful for fourth year students and a lot of time consuming. I prefer discussing the book in class and doing presentations. If some students don't work or study much that way it's their fault.

It's very time consuming - it's only one section of our French module, yet it takes hours every week to read the book, answer the questions, go to class and then write the blog.

Peers’ comments

Plagiarism? Concerns?

Would it be better to do “collaborative blogs”?

Allow bloggers to contribute to the development of ideas in the blogosphere, rather than looking at academic literacy? (Bloch, 2007)

Design a blog

Wordpress.comBlogger.comBlogspot.ie

Bibliography

Anna Karlsson, How can blogging in foreign language education improve pupils´ writing skills? Research paper, Malmo University

Using Blogs in the Foreign Language Classroom: Encouraging Learner Independence Kathleen Pinkman Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan

Why teach literature in the foreign language classroom? Jonathan P.A. Sell Universidad de Alcalá

Abdullah’s Blogging: A generation 1.5 student enters the blogosphere, Joel Bloch, in Language learning and technology, Vol.11, No.2, June 2007, pp. 128-141