The end of 2017 is approaching, so it feels like a good time to stop for a moment and take stock of this blogging year. This blog has been (and hopefully will be) a great CPD tool, as well as a great place to come to when I needed to put something into writing in order to make it clear in my mind.
I feel particularly proud in that this year I successfully published a post a week — excluding a couple of summer months when I was feeling quite burnt out and needed to get away from it all — keeping my 2017 New Year resolution to do so.
This is also probably the longest I have ever had a blog, as well as the most productive blogging experience I have had so far. Here are three things I find particularly useful of blogging about ELT:
1. Discovering new points of view
This is definitely the biggest advantage. When I have a problem that seems unsolvable, I can always count on my blog and all the wonderful people who pass by to inspire me, give me a new perspective on things and find a solution where I never thought to look. Often just writing about a problem is a cathartic process that will help me solve it, or find new motivation.
2. Keeping a record
By writing about lessons that went well or not so well, of solutions and practical ideas, this blog is becoming a sort of notebook that I can refer to when I find myself in need of ideas, or when I am trying not to repeat the same mistakes.
It is also an amazing record of how I’m growing and changing as a teacher and as a person. Sometimes I go back and I can’t believe I wrote posts like this one no longer than a year and a half ago. This gives me a very tangible sense of my progress — which we all know is key to keep going forward.
3. Writing
Personally, I also find it a great writing exercise. I enjoy writing and (as you might guess) I love the English language. This little virtual space allows me to marry these two things in a wonderful, and at the same time pleasurable, writing practice.
Out of all notifications, WordPress notifications are my favourite. And those from your blog especially. Happy New Year!
That’s very sweet, thanks Kamila! Happy holidays to you too! 😊