March 2008 Volume 11, Number 4
	Contents   |   TESL-EJ Top

Emerging Communities at BBC Learning English

Catherine Chapman
BBC Learning English
<catherine.chapmanbbc.co.uk>

Paul Scott
BBC Learning English
<Paul.Scott2bbc.co.uk>

Abstract

This paper traces the development of the BBC Learning English [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/] online community, focusing on tools such as e-mail discussion lists, message boards, comments boards, student/teacher blogs, competitions, and voting. It describes how relationships between the intermediate level users of all nationalities and the tools, the website and students with each other, have emerged and developed through the use of each feature at the site. It discusses the different types of community that have emerged around each tool, and how BBC Learning English practice has been influenced by the users. The live presentation also included an opportunity to explore "The Flatmates" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/], an online language learning soap opera, and offered participants an opportunity to write an episode of their own.

Keywords: EFL, ESL, language study sites, blogging, discussion boards

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