Publications
Publication details [#50773]
Negueruela-Azarola, Eduardo. 2009. Blogs in Spanish beyond the classroom: Sociocultural opportunities for second language development. In Abraham, Lee B., ed. Electronic Discourse in Language Learning and Language Teaching. (Language Learning & Language Teaching 25). John Benjamins. pp. 241–260.
Publication type
Article in book
Publication language
English
Keywords
Language as a subject
Place, Publisher
John Benjamins
Annotation
This paper explores pedagogical uses of blogs written in Spanish and available in the web as productive digital moments that expand and reorganize the second language (L2) learning experience. Using Sociocultural Theory (SCT) (see Lantolf & Thorne, 2006) as an explanatory framework to understand L2 written and oral communication, the paper considers the importance of mindful attention for development (see Salomon, 1991) and presents two metaphors (expansion and reorganization) for understanding blogs both as a rich locus of communication and conceptualization and as a source of current unique texts for cultural, psychological, and social interpretation outside the classroom but only a digital click away for the L2 learner. A basic sociocultural topic-oriented heuristic for a reflective exploration of the Spanish-language blogosphere is provided so that Spanish teachers have a a sample pedagogical tool to offer to L2 learners. This study promotes meaningful utilization of Spanish-language blogs beyond the L2 classroom by recognizing blogs as a valuable sociocultural human activity.