Technology offers many opportunities for indirect learning. For example, blogging helps you become better at writing, especially if you’re blogging about something that interests you personally.
While you might be blogging as a hobby, writing about an exciting project, or discussing life in general, the mere act of blogging helps you practice your vocabulary and spelling, and become a better digital communicator. This benefits your writing skills and academic performance. And that’s why you should think about starting blogging now (if you aren’t already), so that you can build a broad vocabulary and get a head start in your professional and educational career.
The sooner you start, the more benefits you’ll gain. That’s why it’s a good idea for people to start blogging as soon as possible, even at an early age.
Blogging builds your vocabulary
When you blog you create stories for your readers. Sometimes you stumble upon word gaps: words you don’t know, or ideas you can’t express. You don’t know how to name an act, emotion, or idea. Don’t worry! This is actually useful, because it prompts you to actively search for the appropriate word for that context.
As you become more and more interested in blogging, you’ll incrementally build your vocabulary and become a more accurate, fluent communicator. You’ll become someone who knows how to use the right word in the right context to make the right impression.
Fun and social
Blogging is a rewarding experience. You’ll discover that while you are indirectly improving your language skills, you are also socializing and exchanging opinions with your peers and other interesting people on the web.
Independent and self-paced
While most assignment and projects at school are monitored by your instructors, and you’re accountable for them to your teachers and your team, with blogging you are self-regulating your performance.
Putting yourself in charge makes the process all the more important to you, and encourages you to devote more time and effort in this independent and self-paced activity.
Without the stress and pressure from an instructor, blogging becomes a constructive activity that lets you express yourself, and at the same time improve your vocabulary and communication skills.
Public or private
Whether or not you want your blogging available for all to see is up to you. Going public with your blogging efforts has an advantage: it encourages you to try harder, to work on writing as impeccably as humanly possible.
The mere thought of having others read what you blog about gives you the extra incentive to double check before hitting the publish button. Of course, you’ll also want to make sure your writing contributes something in terms of quality and information.
How to start blogging
You can use one of the many free tools available for creating a blog, like Wordpress, Blogger, or Penzu. Pick the one that seems easiest to use.
The next step is finding an interest, hobby or passion you’re interested in (or obsessed about). It could be anything — fashion, yoga, volunteering — anything that makes you eager and engaged and ready to talk and write on the topic.
The third step is to start writing. The first time you blog, you’ll be filled with anticipation and overwhelming excitement. It might feel a bit scary when you hit publish for the first time. Just do your best and write from the heart!
If you find blogging to be an exciting opportunity to build your language skills, why not share it with your teachers and classmates?
Perhaps you could create a classroom blog where you document your progress, learning, and other exciting activities you engage in!
