Attitudes of Thai EFL Learners toward the Use of Blogs

Pongthorn AsawaniwedAtipat Boonmoh, Ph.D.

OverviewIntroductionMethodologyData Presentation &

InterpretationRecommendationsReferencesQ&A

Asawaniwed&

Boonmoh

Introduction

The rationale of this study

Digital age

Digital native

Styles of learning

Time spent on the Internet

Change for difference Asawaniwed

&Boonmoh3

Introduction

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

Asawaniwed&

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Methodology

Procedure

Stage 1

Stage 2

Creating and designing a blog on

.com

Planning

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Methodology

Procedure

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

Explaining the instructions and encouraging students to write

Collecting data

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Methodology

Data analysis

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

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Methodology

Data analysis (cont.)

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

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Methodology

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

Assignment

Number of participants

Average word count

1 37 (95%) 92

2 38 (97%) 73

3 38 (97%) 143

4 31 (79%) 127

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Table 1: Statistics for minimum requirement (assignments)

Table 2: Extra posting analysis

Data Presentation & Interpretation

Input Entries

Written textThai 11 (18%)

English 13 (21%)

MediaVideos 29 (47%)

Pictures 9 (15%)

Total number of entries posted 62 (100%)

Average entries written/ posted per participant (N = 19)

3.26

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Data Presentation & Interpretation

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7%93%

Attitudes toward blogging

Neg-ative

15

Data Presentation & Interpretation

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Attitudes toward blogging Negative

Technical problems

Language and Computer literacy

Laziness

Boring

16

Data Presentation & Interpretation

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Good

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Prac

tice

lang

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skills

Conve

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A pl

ace

to sha

re

Uniqu

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atur

es

No co

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Will con

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048

121620

19 1814

12

7 64 4 3

Attitudes toward blogging Pos-itive

Discussion & Recommendations

Asawaniwed&

Boonmoh

Planning

Introducing

**Training**

Practicing

Facilitating

Performing

18

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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Thank youQ&A

Asawaniwed&

Boonmoh