Using Weblogs in Foreign Language Classrooms: Possibilities and Challenges

Over the past few years, the emergence of Web 2.0 technologies such as weblogs, wikis, and social networks has created new opportunies and challenges in the field of foreign language learning. The characteristics of Web 2.0, which facilitate interactive information sharing, user-centered designs, and online collaboration, are recognized to have great potential for more effective teaching and learning foreign languages. Consequently, a growing number of researchers and teachers have been exploring the ways to integrating various Web 2.0 technologies into foreign language classrooms. Weblogs have become one of the best-received Web 2.0 technologies in foreign language education. This study explores the significant issues of using Weblogs in foreign language learning, examining the theoretical justification of using Web 2.0 in foreign language learning, identifying possibilities and challenges of weblogs implemented in foreign language classrooms, and discussing advantages and disadvantages of using weblogs.