The document discusses using blogs to contextualize writing assignments for English language learners. It describes two blog-based creative writing projects where learners wrote stories in response to music clips or images. Learners were motivated by having their writing published online. Analysis found the projects elicited imaginative writing and expository depth. Contextualizing assignments through blogs can enhance learner creativity and development as writers.

1. The role of blogs
in L2 writing
contextualization
and expository reach
Lee Arnold
Seigakuin University
Seventh Symposium on Writing Centers in Asia 2015
Kawagoe-shi, Saitama-ken Japan

2. • Enhancement of meaningfulness in
learner writing assignments
• Development of learner expository
reach
• Contextualization of assignments
for learners into writing projects
• Exploitation of Internet and Web
2.0 for learner writing publication
Key issues in writing pedagogy

3. A breakthrough of greater authenticity
and depth that learners achieve with
their writing compared with where
they have previously written
“(Y)ou are proficient in a language to
the extent that you possess it, make it
your own, bend it to your will, assert
yourself through it rather than simply
submit to the dictates of its form”
(Widdowson, 1993, quoted in Hanauer,
2011)
Expository reach

4. Blogs and learner writing
• Blogs have expanded possibilities in computer- and web-based TEFL writing
given ease of use to learners and teachers alike (Blood, 2002)
• Can play affirmative role for learner evaluation and reflection on writing
assignments (Dieu, 2004) and tutorial support functions (Johnson, 2004)
• May also cultivate learner writer voice (Bloch, 2007) and creation of learner
writer-reader community (Sollars, 2007)
• May form inexpensive and instantaneous means of creating contexts that
learners can write to and for

5. Four classes of predominantly first-year
literature and culture majors in two
private universities
• Wide range of levels from high-beginner
to low-advanced
• Some variability of level within
individual classes
• Strong sense of cooperation among
learners in all classes
Profile of writing classes

6. Presentation by Matsuda (2013) demonstrated
approach in creating context for an assignment
Learners were asked to write about people they
admired such as family members or friends
Learners told their work would be gathered into
book that each would contribute a chapter to
Adapted approach to same assignment with my
learners by telling them their work would be
selected for blog page collection called The
Small Book of Big People
Contextualizing a typical
assignment

7. Samples: The Small Book of Big People
I esteem Haruki Murakami for his writing ability. For
example, he writes the books that are composed of a
unique statement and metaphor. They attract readers.
When I read his books for the first time, I was also
attracted to them. Norwegian Wood was especially
attracted me in the book written by him. This book
made me a little sad and caused a strange feeling. I
want to be a novelist. I want to imitate his writing
ability and be a novelist like him.
I respect Taylor Swift who is singer in America. She has blond hair,
blue eyes, red rouge lip, and cute. Her songs are pop, ballad, and
they cheer up me when I felt down. She writes songs herself and
based on her experience. For example, “We Are Never Getting
Back Together” is one of her big songs. It has a bright and poppy
melody! The song is popular with young people. When I listen to
this song, it gives me energy. Another one is “I Knew You Were
Trouble.” The song is gloomy and with painful lyrics.
There is a meaning that unexpected things happened and
heartbreaking. When I feel down and listen to these songs, I am
encouraged. Especially, these songs are my favorite songs! I want
her to be known by a lot of people, because she isn’t well known by
older. So I hope that every generation loves her.
I do not have a person now that I respect, but
in the future I want to be be a person that
many people respect.
I have a dream that nobody has. My dream is
to be someone that can change something in
this world, this world with many problems
and many dirty things, and many selfish
people, but with many more things that are
very beautiful.
I don’t know how to be a great person that is
capable of changing the world, but I came to
this university to search that, to search how to
evolve.
So now, I am not a person that can be in this
book, but in ten or twenty years I hope to be
one of the “big people.”

8. Samples: The Small Book of Big People
I respect my friend of my high school
days. He was greatly honored by the
many people. He always was serious for
everything. He belonged to soccer club
and practiced very hard. For instance he
got up at 5:00, arrived at our school and
ran around our school every morning in
spite of he have practice after school. He
had never missed his morning training. If
I am he, probably I’m tired of morning
training because I have to practice after
school. Then he usually prepared for
class after finish his training. So I think
his schedule was very busy. I couldn’t
imitate his daily routine.
Then he has a lot of friends because he
was very friendly and gentle. So I
respect him and want to model my life
after him.
My exceptional person is an office worker in cram
school of my working place. The place name is
Rinkai seminar. Everyone called her “Chansan,” but
she is Japanese. She looks madam and brown. She
was used to secretary. So she is very steady and
everyone relies her on. Of course me too. Many
students and teachers love her. Though she does not
get money, she still works overtime because she
always thinks about students. If I am same her
situation, I never do it. And she supports me for my
dream. For example, she negotiated to get to know
to work part-time in my place where I wanted to
work in the future. After all, I can’t work there, but I
deeply appreciated to her.
She has four people in her family with her husband,
daughter, and son. She is housewife. Her daughter
was good basketball manager. She guided an
interscholastic athletic meet for basketball player.
Therefore many offers came to her from the
company. Chansan’s son is good basketball player.
He participated in an international athletic meet. I
think that after all it is her power that was brought
up by such children. I want to become a wonderful
person being like her sometime.

9. • Learners motivated by prospect of blog publication
• Overall learner level in low-intermediate range but contextualization may have
spurred expository reach among some
• Publication of writing validates Sollars (2007) on role of blogs for learner writer
community
Analysis

10. Blog audio-visual upload of music and imagery
ideal for learner writing creativity and grounded
in Asher’s Total Physical Response (1969) and
Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences (1983)
Further support in Morrow’s (1977) definition of
authentic materials and Breen’s (1985) criteria
for use in TEFL
Room for teaching of creative expression in
language pedagogy advocated by Kramsch
(2009) and Hanauer (2011)
Was inspired from research literature to devise
two blog-contextualized creative writing projects
for my learners with music and imagery (Words
on Music and Places & Traces)
Audio-visual blog content and
creative writing

11. Samples: Words on Music
This song is like a feeling of a young mother
going somewhere to abandon her children,
she does not have money to feed her children,
so she will abandon her children in front of a
house that looks like with a rich family inside,
with a family richer than her, so probably the
children will have a better life. For me this
song demonstrate the unstable feelings and
thoughts that she had when she go to abandon
her children. At the beginning she feel that
she is doing the right thing, with her act her
children will be more happier in other family
maybe her children can achieve something
great! But in the way to the place she get
regretful, she think about her living with her
children, with many problems that her
children causes but which makes her happy.
Once upon a time, there was the princess. The
princess learned piano for a long time. So she
practiced it. But one time, she was interested
in one person. She saw him through the
window. But she didn’t meet him and talk
with him. So she did not know him very well.
And he did not know her at all. But she fell in
love. After a while, her dad introduced her to
the person who dad wants her to marry with.
She did not decide to her destiny. Because her
parent’s right was strong. And she has ever
stood. But this time is special for her. So she
decided to run away from her house in her
mind. She played the piano in her house at
last. She remembered her life. Sometimes, she
did not want leave with her parents. But she
ran away from her house.

12. Samples: Words on Music
In a certain house, thief comes up. The
thief gets closer to the room on his
tiptoes. When he goes into the room,
there is a girl. She is a cute and
beautiful girl, and fall asleep. The man
falls in love with her at first sight. For a
while, she wakes up and surprises him.
And he forgets an original purpose and
kidnaps her.
There is a girl who goes on an
adventure. She is going to be in a
very good mood, but she heard a
strange noise. She was lonely.
Just then, the figure of
grandfather emerged in front of a
girl, and he introduced his house
near here. This house were five
dwarfs, they welcome to her. For
example, they played the music,
and cooking. But, after a short
time, she missed his mother, and
she was cried. It can’t be helped,
they gave her a night, and she was
escaped by them next day.
An explorer searches for a treasure. A treasure
sleeps in the grave. He devotes his life to it. He
fined a clue of treasure. He went to Egypt.
Then he solves cipher of treasure. He fined
treasure at last. It is beautiful nature. There are
many animal and fruit. And many animals are
an endangered species. Though the treasure
was not treasures, he feels very much.

13. The sea water is the bright incomparable sky-blue. It’s a
beautiful day for the beach. Crowds are heading to the ocean
shore. Beach towel dot the sand with color. Plastic buckets and
balls roll round in the breeze. You can swim, you can wade or
just rest. There are lots of things to do. It seems that people
bring all the activities to the beach. But the sandy shore is a
busy place even without tourists.
Look! There is an abandoned pirate ship on the sandy shore. Do
you want to know more about the abandoned ship? Let me tell
you.
Long long ago, a young man became a pirate after he ran away
from home and joined the crew on a privateering ship. One day,
he dreamt there be treasure on the sandy shore. So the next day
he began to dig. He dug until the hole was deep and the dirt pile
was high. He kept digging and sighed “I’m tired, I can’t dig
anymore.” Then he spied something. But he only found a pirate
ship. He was quite disappointed. When he wanted to give up his
friend told him “let’s get in the ship, maybe the treasure is
buried in it.” Finally, they got a small box and a little treasure.
They took the treasure away but left the abandoned pirate ship
on the sandy shore. Now, we can see it on picture.
Samples: Places & Traces

14. In the ancient age, there was a man who worked in the sea and he
brought his passengers from Italy to Israel. His name was
Michael. He looked so tough but he had great kindness in his
heart. His brown eyes were full of love and many people liked
his gentle smile. He was poor but he was happy because all the
man around him loved him and God he believed so much loved
him, too.
One day, when he was waiting for his passenger in Italy, a
beautiful woman came and asked, “Would you bring me to
Israel? I have to go.” She had long blond hair with a glossy
sheen, her blue eyes were so fascinating and her thick lips were
attractive. She was well dresses in red and it made her more and
more wonderful. As soon as Michael looked at the woman, he
fell in love with her. Then, he said to God, “I love you and my
heart must not be changed in the future, but I come to love
another now. Do not get angry and let me marry to her with your
power.”
Eight months later, there was Michael with the smiling woman
dressed in pure white in the restaurant near the sea. Michael’s
father got drunk because of red wine and his wife enjoyed
talking with the mother of Michael’s new wife. Michael’s wish
came true because of the special power and love of God. He and
his new wife were happier. God was also happier and thought
how nice this moment was. (…)
Samples: Places & Traces

15. • More sophisticated narrative framing
resulted in greater depth and range
• Less textured musical composition and
instrumentation brought out more
imaginative and lengthier writing
• Realism of imagery with vagueness of
subject context may have enabled more
dynamic exploration
• Learners found blog links in both projects
surprising and stimulating compared to
initial impressions of artists and imagery
• Best writing demonstrated expository reach
Analysis

16. Conclusion
• Blog-contextualized classroom writing assignments geared to yielding
creativity can bring forth imaginative and expressive learner writing
• Music and imagery may open areas of great emotional response for learner
writing
• Opportunities for expository reach may be enhanced by contextualizing
assignments into projects through blog material upload and activities
• Blog-publishing learner writing may not only create such context but also
develop peer writer readership

17. Thank you
for listening!
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the samples of music or images uploaded in this presentation.
They have been included solely for educational purposes.
Image credits: Title and closing slides – Pink Lotus (courtesy of seaskylab)/Typing in Keyboard (courtesy of PANPOTE)/Henry Widdowson (courtesy of
Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Sprachendidaktik website)/Chair (courtesy of suphakit73)/Teenage Students Using Laptop (courtesy of Ambro)/Turntable (courtesy
of James Barker)/Lines and Shadows (own image)/Arromanches (courtesy of Bulo78) and Woodstock couple (self-reproduced from image by Burk Uzzle courtesy of
Laurence Miller Gallery – both images from Wikimedia Commons)/All Daily Sekaijin blog screen shots (own images)/seaskylab, PANPOTE, suphakit73, Ambro,
and James Barker images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Music sound samples pulled from YouTube. All rights reserved to the copyright holders.

18. References
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