Write a post in your blog: What new aspects have you learned about using web 2.0 tools? How could this help you as a language teacher? Which of the researched sites did you like most and why did you like it most?

Web 2.0 tools, such as wikis or bloqs, function through the principle of participation. Any user participating adds value – which makes the web service automatically better the more people use it. The Web 2.0 is far less a new technology, but a combination of interaction between methods and tools. Therefore, one can describe the participants as the “heart” of the Web 2.0. Individuals all over the world that are interested, have the possibility to get connected via various social softwares (e.g. wiki’s, blog’s, etc.).  Participants cannot only use the Web 2.0 to receive data or services, but also actively create and enhance the knowledge. This “wisdom of crowds” is also called “collective intelligence.” This is based on the principle that “with enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow.” (O´Reilly).

Which impacts do these aspects have for me as a future language teacher? I am sure that the Web 2.0 offers many opportunities for language learning. The biggest advantage is that the students can participate on their own, without the need of any specific knowledge of a computer language. Therefore, it is very easy to use Web 2.0 tools.

As for the use of blogs, I could imagine to have a classroom blog. Here, one could write about what is going on in the classroom, post homeworks or link internet ressources that are relevant for the group of learners. The class has the possibility to connect with other learners, people, or classes and consequently, create a broad language learning community. The students might take geater care on what they write or publish in the Internet, if they know that there is a real audience.

The positive thing about wikis is that here, content is given priority and not design. Everyone can participate in a wiki, change or add facts. However, changes can be as easily reversed as they can be published. It is very simple to work on collaborative projects. The teacher has the chance to see who made which changes, mistakes or personal developments, and can therefore, support the learners better.

The “Urban Dictionary”

This is a slang dictionary where the user can define the words. The advantage is that one can find words or expressions that are not in a “normal” reference work. This may not be the language used in an adacemic context, but in the real life and most likely needed by students when going abroad or talking to native speakers. I think this urban dictionary is a very good way to motivate the students in terms of learning English. Furthermore, any user can define words/ expressions. Hence, it could be a project to find English slang expressions, for example with the help of the Web, and add them to the dictionary. The students are more likely to take greater care of their product, if they know that there is a real audience reading it.