When I first heard of blogs I didn't give them much thought. People telling about their day, everyday? If I wanted to know how someone was doing I would rather ask them in person.
However, my perception changed when I went abroad. Miles away, over the Atlantic Ocean in Spain, I spoke a short 15 minutes a week with my parents on my cell phone, spent countless euros on post cards and stamps, and wrote hundreds of quick emails to all my friends who were curious to know how I was doing. I would have saved time spending 30 minutes a week writing about my experiences and posting them in a place where everyone could see. A blog could have been my abroad connection with the home.
In this first week of class my perception of blogs has changed again. I find myself preparing to become a Spanish teacher in the 21st century when tools like blogs could enhance my students' learning. My newest classroom idea is to share a bilingual blog with a classroom of English learners in one of my former schools in Spain. My goal would be to have students not only practice their language skills, but also to share cultural knowledge. My dream would be to take my class to visit the partner school. Getting students abroad is my passion and if the first step is an international blog then bring on the blogging.
I like your point about using blogs to stay more connected while being abroad. Posting my activities once on a blog would have been allot easier then using slow dial up and satellite phones trying to respond to everyone while I was in Africa. I think its great that you already have an idea in place for an international blog! Good work Bis :) see you in class tomorrow.
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