Joining the ‘literacy club’: when reading meets blogging

Abstract

This article reports on a one-year EFL extensive reading programme involving blogging, and documents its effects on learners’ literacy growth evaluated by their writing fluency (for example the number of words) and depth of reading (for example ideas reflected in the posts). While a great deal of research suggests that reading is the underlying cause of literacy growth, it is important to consider the role of blogging, a crucial mediation for reading in this programme. Results reporting the contribution and effect of blogging showed that readers wrote more in the second semester than the first and expressed more well-developed ideas as the extensive reading programme progressed. Most important of all, they had the chance to enjoy reading and writing for ‘real’ purposes, have their own voices heard, and gain support in this ‘literacy club’. Finally, most considered blogging useful in helping them read and write better.