As a read this article by Mark Warschauer, he states that "four new tools (blogs, wikis, automated writing evaluation, and open-source netbook computers) are needed for the teaching and learning of writing" (3). For my response, I want to comment only on the blog in terms of learning a new language. He writes, “The value of online communication in second language learning has been attributed to how it combines the interactivity of speech with the permanence of writing” (3). When I was learning a new language, one of the drawbacks was not having someone to practice with on a daily basis. However, when I started emailing, doing Instant Messaging, and blogging, I began to get a better understanding of the language and its construction. For example, there were times when I was not sure about the placement of an adjective with certain nouns or when to use certain pronouns. Through blogging/online communication, the person on the other end would correct my sentence structure. And in return, I would correct his English sentence structure because that person was trying to learn English.
I found this blogging tool or method to be very rich and rewarding. I had the opportunity to get online assistance in learning a new language and to be able to socialize online in a way that benifited me and the person on the other end of the line. In other words, both of us were able to practice our language on daily basis without having to search for someone who may or may not have the time to practice with us.
Therefore, as for me, I agree with Warschauer's statement, “Blogs represent a particularly effective tool to combine the publishing and discussion of the student writing in a single medium” (4).
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