Several Ways I can use Blogging in a Second Language Classroom:

Reading Will Richardson's "Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Tools for Classrooms" gave me some pretty good insight for someone like me who is new to the world of teaching. I like that it allows students and teachers to fully discuss assignments and readings through blogging. It gives the students who can be relatively shy in class to be able to be comfortable in discussing their opinions and reflections on assignments in their blogs. As someone who was an ESL student I think I would have benefited from that. Since I myself was an extremely shy student, I was always nervous about speaking out in class and wasn't entirely comfortable in asking the questions I wanted to ask or even express my opinions. I do believe that there are students who are in the exact position that I used to been in and blogging presents an excellent opportunity for them to build confidence in their English Language skills. We also need to make sure that we create a safe online environment and educate students and parents on the safety uses for online blogging. Teachers and parents must supervise students since the internet is so open to the rest of the world. One idea that I liked from the readings for an ESL Classroom is posting assignments that would get students to work on their vocabulary and grammar. I would also get students to reflect on readings based on their English proficiency. They would be able to fully express themselves and their opinions. Another use for blogging is as a teacher being able to create additional links and sources (being able to connect with students with English as their native language) for students to use in order to work on improving their Vocabulary, Grammar, and Speaking skills. One of the sites that is helpful in determining NewYork State learning standards for ESL students that I think is helpful is NYLearns it explains the levels of standards for English as a Second Language from K-12 by using standard performance indicators, what grade level, and the subject area. I decided to post two standards that are used for English as a Second Language:

Standard 1: Students will listen, speak, read, and write in English information and understanding.

• Students Learning English as a second language will use English to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information for content area learning and personal use. They will develop and use skills and strategies appropriate to their level of English proficiency to collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts.

Standard 2: Students will listen, speak, read, and write in  English for literary response, enjoyment, and expression.

• Students learning English as a second language will use English for self-expression, artistic creation, and participation in popular culture. They will develop and use skills and strategies appropriate to their level of English proficiency to listen, to read, and respond to oral, written, and electronically produced texts and performances. Relate texts and performances to their own lives, and other works, and develop understanding of diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions texts and performances present.

  In general I like that it creates a "collaborative learning experience" that Richardson presents in the chapters. It's an excellent learning experience for both teachers and students and gives students a chance to get interested in a subject and fully immerse in their assignments and discussions with one another.

http://nylearns.org/default.aspx
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/resource/ESL/06PerInd.pdf