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 Asawaniwed & Boonmoh

Introduction  The rationale of this study Digital age Digital native Styles of learning Time spent on the Internet Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 3

Introduction  Research question 1)What are students’ attitudes toward writing on blogs? Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 4

Methodology  Participants  Level: First-year undergraduate students N=39  Fields of study: Electrical Engineering & Production Technology Education  Course: LNG 102 English Skills and Strategies Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 5

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 & Boonmoh 6

Methodology  Procedure  Stage 1  Stage 2 Creating and designing a blog on.com Planning Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 7

Methodology  Procedure  Stage 3:  Stage 4: Explaining the instructions and encouraging students to write Collecting data Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 8

Methodology  Data analysis 1)Identifying keywords that reflect the students’ attitude or feedback about blogging. Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 9

Methodology  Data analysis (cont.) 2)Categorizing the keywords into two main categories: Positive and Negative. Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 10

Methodology  Data analysis (cont.) 3)Determining the factors, based on the keywords, that may indicate the students’ attitude toward the use of blogs. Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 11

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 Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 12

Data Presentation & Interpretation Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 13 Table 1: Statistics for minimum requirement (assignments)

Table 2: Extra posting analysis Data Presentation & Interpretation Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 14

Data Presentation & Interpretation Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 15

Data Presentation & Interpretation Asawaniwed & Boonmoh  Attitudes toward blogging Negative Technical problems Language and Computer literacy Laziness Boring 16

Data Presentation & Interpretation Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 17

Discussion & Recommendations Asawaniwed & Boonmoh PlanningIntroducing**Training**PracticingFacilitatingPerforming 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), 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), Huffaker, D. (2005). The Educated Blogger: Using Weblogs to Promote Literacy in the Classroom. AACE Journal, 13(2), Montero-Fleta, B., & Pérez-Sabater, C. (2010). A Research on Blogging as a Platform to Enhance Language Skills. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, Noytim, U. (2010). Weblogs Enhancing EFL Students’ English Language Learning. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, Pinkman, K. (2005). Using Blogs in the Foreign Language Classroom: Encouraging Learner Independence. JALT CALL, 1(1), 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, Asawaniwed & Boonmoh 19

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