USING BLOGS IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO PHILOLOGY STUDENTS

This paper reports on an innovative approach to using blogs in teaching English as a foreign language. A blog is a sound example of information and communication technologies (ICT) implementation for language learning. In this paper, authors present the results of a small-scale action research aimed at analysing students’ perceptions of blogging. In total, 25 first-year university students majoring in English took part in a survey. The research results give the evidence of the benefits of using blogs: it encourages students’ autonomous learning, expands their collaboration through comments and discussions, improves language skills, increases the sense of responsibility and the desire for life-long learning, etc. At the same time, teachers consider blogs to be an effective facilitation for greater learner interaction and skills development. The research deals with the detailed blog starting guide for teachers of English. Authors instruct how to create and maintain blogs, as these interactive web pages prove to be effective for students online chatting, exchanging photos, videos, pictures, thereby expanding their language study beyond the classroom. For those who refuse being involved in the creation of a personal web page, some useful blog links are given. For better understanding of blogging efficiency, the researchers report on the positive implementation of blogs in teaching English, focusing on developing reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.