Over the past two years, I've written 50 blog posts for Ellii!
Fifty blog posts sounds like an overwhelming number, yet when you break it into a post every couple of weeks, it was all very manageable. Plus, I had a lot of fun researching and writing each one.
Here are some of my top posts:
- Speaking at an ELT Conference: Top Tips for Successful Presentations
- 4 Ways to Use Videos Effectively in Class
- 3 Awesome End-of-Term Activities for English Learners
In this post, I’ll explore the benefits of blogging, some of my favorite ELT blogs, and some tips for starting your own.
Benefits
1. Personal development
One of the things I have enjoyed most about blogging for Ellii is having an excuse to swot up on* a certain topic. In ELT, there are always new techniques, activities, or methodologies to explore. Writing a blog is an added motivation boost to do this.
2. Sharing expertise
Blogging is a great way to set yourself up as an industry expert. You can share your research, classroom ideas, and best practices with the world. Plus, when others comment on your posts, you can make new connections and find out more about that topic.
3. Profile raising
Blogging is a non-intimidating way to raise your profile. When I first started out with my own blog, I didn’t have the confidence to vlog or deliver a webinar. Blogging allowed me to gently try engaging with the ELT world online. I was able to edit my work and get my messaging right before posting. When people started complimenting and sharing my posts, this gave me more motivation to try other ways to share my skills. And of course, this led to more writing, training, and blogging work.
4. Enjoyment
Blogging is fun, therapeutic, and reflective. There have been weeks when I’ve been stressed by other projects. However, I often find that sitting down for a couple of hours to focus on writing can help relieve that stress. It’s two hours of deep focus on one subject and an opportunity to process information in a new way.
My favorite ELT blogs
There are a lot of fabulous blogs out there for English language teachers. I can’t name them all so I’ll give you my top four bloggers, and I hope that you add the ones I’ve missed in the comments!
Sandy Millin
Sandy Millin is an ELT author, trainer, and blogging legend. If you ever have FOMO** about a conference, chances are Sandy attended and wrote extensive notes! Her blog covers almost every imaginable topic and has guest posts from many ELT experts.
Peter J. Fullagar
Peter is one of my ELT heroes. He has recently published a fantastic book entitled Existence. It does what every ELT coursebook should be doing—representing rather than omitting LGBTQIA+ identities. His blog posts date back to 2008 and range from inclusion, to well-being, to Virginia Woolf.
Peter Clements
Peter is an EAL teacher, author, and consultant. His impressive back catalogue of blog posts and ELT publications will leave you wondering whether he invented an infinite time-making machine! He’s also created some fantastic lessons for Ellii, such as this Discussion Starters lesson on Influencers and this Academic Vocabulary lesson on The Digestive System.
Rachael Roberts
I’m a big fan of Rachael Roberts. I wouldn’t be the confident, business-minded ELT professional that I am today if it weren't for her! Her blog is full of essential entrepreneurial advice such as negotiating contracts, marketing yourself, and managing work–life balance.
earnlearnthriveinelt.com/free-stuff
Tips for starting your own blog
The hardest thing about starting your own blog is getting started! My top tip would be to just put your fingers on a keyboard and see where they take you!
Here are some other tips for blogging:
1. Start for free
There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing your blogging platform. Wordpress, Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace are all common hosting providers. Free sites tend to have advertisements, but when you’re just starting out, this is perfectly reasonable. Once you’ve built up a following you can consider other options. You could also get started by sharing longer posts on Instagram, Linkedin, or Facebook.
2. Feel the fear and blog anyway
I was terrified the first time I wrote a blog post. I think I proofread it at least ten times! I’m pretty sure I also asked a couple of friends to read it too. Now I’m not so worried about a misplaced comma or one tiny little typo. No one really cares about that! And if they do, they’ll most likely send a friendly private message so you can quietly update it.
The ELT world is blessed to have so many supportive people working together to improve student experiences. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the encouraging feedback you get.
3. Collaborate
You might need a bit of extra motivation to get started. I often find that collaborating with someone can be the extra nudge I need. Ask your contacts if they’d like to write something with you, or if they’d like you to write an article or blog post for them.
You can find ideas for blogs and magazines that are always looking for articles here:
Beyond Teaching: ELT Careers to Keep You Motivated
4. Write about what you know
Everyone has a valuable experience to share with the world. It’s much easier to write about something you know well than to research something completely new. If you have been trialing new techniques to teach literacy, write about that. There are always other teachers interested in sharing best practices and learning new approaches.
Blogging can also be a fantastic way for students to use their language skills. Here’s a lesson plan you might want to check out: How to Write a Blog Post. You can also share these blog posts that are made for EL students and encourage them to practice leaving comments.
Glossary
*swot up on: to study intensely (British English)
**FOMO: fear of missing out
What benefits, bloggers, and top tips would you add to this post? We’d love to know your thoughts and recommendations.
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