EFL Blogs – A Tool of Self-development or a Tool of Self-promotion?

This article takes the role of the devil’s advocate and deals the ongoing debate on how teachers are utilizing the blogs. Every coin has two facades. It is very likely that one side may be more appealing whereas the other rather disturbing.

Firstly, no one can deny that blogs have ameliorated the EFL profession due to the following reasons:

• It is a portal of sharing information and expertise. E.g. Seminars are published, free tips are offered so as to make EFL lessons more creative etc

• Remaining up-to-date. E.g. Become informed of the latest changes that the government has made the affect EFL teaching – Cameron has just announced funding for the ESOL classes which means more job opportunities for EFL teachers.

However, detractors have accused EFL teachers for using blogs as a channel of self-promotion. In particular, many advertise their language school, their books and generally project their own work on the field. For instance, they may upload a video of a play that they staged so as to impress the public and attract potential clients. 

Indeed, have you ever considered why don’t EFL bloggers publish other good books on ELT along with the ones they have written? Why do they only include their books?

After all, it all depends on what perspective one perceives blogging and how each individual utilizes it. To what extent do EFL teachers use it as a means of self-projection? To what extent do blogs contribute to global EFL knowledge?

Reason has proven that the truth always lies somewhere in the middle.

What do you think?