Blogging about Sustainable Development in the EFL College Classroom

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are not integrated in any EFL courses that students take at the College of Language Sciences. Therefore, this study proposes a model for integrating topics related to SDGs using a class blog. Each week, a specific and tangible topic related to an SDG from a local or global perspective (no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, reduced inequality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice, and strong institutions) is posted by the instructor. Blogging about SDG topics goes through three stages: a pre-task, task and post-task phase. The students may search for videos, photos or articles related to the assigned SDG and write a blog post that describes the photo, summarizes the video or article content. Participation goals that require the students to suggest solutions to a problem are integrated. The students write their reactions to the goal, post comments, and feedback on their classmates’ blog posts. They work on their blog posts individually, in pairs, and in small group; synchronously or asynchronously; on a smart phone, tablet, iPad or laptop. In the blogging activity, the instructor serves as a facilitator while the students are blogging.  The study gives recommendations for integrating SDG in EFL writing, speaking and reading courses.