Attitudes of Thai EFL Learners toward the Use of Blogs

Pongthorn Asawaniwed Atipat Boonmoh, Ph.D.

Overview

 Introduction  Methodology  Data Presentation & Interpretation  Recommendations  References  Q&A

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Introduction

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The rationale of this study

Digital age Digital native Time spent on the Internet Styles of learning

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Introduction

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Research question

1) What are students’ attitudes toward writing on blogs?

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Methodology



Participants



Level:

First-year undergraduate students N=39 

Fields of study:

Electrical Engineering & Production Technology Education 

Course:

LNG 102 English Skills and Strategies

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Methodology



Main instrument

The students’ reflection of experience doing writing tasks/assignments on a web based application.

N = 35 

Supportive instruments

1.Four required assignments 2.Free posting entries

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Methodology

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Procedure

 Stage 1 Creating and designing a blog on .com

 Stage 2 Planning

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Methodology

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Procedure

 Stage 3: Explaining the instructions and encouraging students to write  Stage 4: Collecting data

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Methodology

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Data analysis

1) Identifying keywords that reflect the students’ attitude or feedback about blogging.

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Methodology

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Data analysis (cont.)

2) Categorizing the keywords into two main categories: Positive and Negative.

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Methodology

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Data analysis (cont.)

3) Determining the factors, based on the keywords, that may indicate the students’ attitude toward the use of blogs.

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Data Presentation & Interpretation



Assignments (required entries) = 4

1) Your opinion about online-based writing compared to paper-based writing 2) Your thoughts about the performance of Jade Richards’ audition in the X Factor 3) Your interest(s) e.g., sports, music, technology and photography 4) Free topic that you would like to share

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Data Presentation & Interpretation

Table 1: Statistics for minimum requirement (assignments) Assignment Number of participants Average word count

1 37 (95%) 92 2 3 4 38 (97%) 38 (97%) 31 (79%) 73 143 127

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Data Presentation & Interpretation

Table 2: Extra posting analysis Input Written text Media Thai English Videos Pictures Total number of entries posted Average entries written/ posted per participant (N = 19) Entries

11 (18%) 13 (21%) 29 (47%) 9 (15%) 62 (100%) 3.26

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Data Presentation & Interpretation

Attitudes toward blogging 7% 93%

Negative Positive

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Data Presentation & Interpretation

 Attitudes toward blogging Negative Boring Technical problems Language and Computer literacy Laziness

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17 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

Data Presentation & Interpretation

Attitudes toward blogging Positive

19 18 14 12 7 6 4 4 3 Asawaniwed & Boonmoh

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Discussion & Recommendations

Planning Introducing **Training** Practicing Facilitating Performing Asawaniwed & Boonmoh

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References

• • • • • • • • Bakar, N. A., Latif, H., & Ya'acob, A. (2010). ESL Students Feedback on the Use of Blogs for Language Learning.

The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 16 (1), 120-141.

Fageeh, A. I. (2011). EFL Learners’ Use of Blogging for Developing Writing Skills and Enhancing Attitudes towards English Learning: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Language and Literature, 2 (1), 31-48.

Huffaker, D. (2005). The Educated Blogger: Using Weblogs to Promote Literacy in the Classroom. AACE Journal, 13 (2), 91-98.

Montero-Fleta, B., & Pérez-Sabater, C. (2010). A Research on Blogging as a Platform to Enhance Language Skills. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2 , 773-777.

Noytim, U. (2010). Weblogs Enhancing EFL Students’ English Language Learning. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2 , 1127-1132.

Pinkman, K. (2005). Using Blogs in the Foreign Language Classroom: Encouraging Learner Independence. JALT CALL, 1 (1), 12-24.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, 9 (5), 1-6.

Top, E., Yukselturk, E., & Inan, A. F. (2010). Reconsidering Usage of Blogging in Preservice Teacher Education Courses. Internet and Higher Education, 13 , 214-217.

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