Using an L2 blog to enhance learners' participation and sense of community

Abstract

This article describes the experience of integrating a class blog into an advanced Italian course, in order to provide an out-of-class forum for language practice and for sharing course-related ideas and information. It also reports on an evaluation of the blog's effectiveness, drawing on an analysis of the students' blog contributions and their responses to questionnaires. We argue that blogs can play a significant role in promoting learners' interaction and nurturing a sense of class community. For this to happen, however, careful attention to two key aspects is required: the way in which the use of the blog is integrated into the course content and structure, and the teachers' role in moderating and facilitating blog interaction.