A useful CALL blog site

The Blog Options and Issues in Computer-assisted Language Learning (http://call4teachers.blogspot.com/) was created by Ammar Merhdi, an English teacher who is interested in integrating technology in language learning and school curriculum. The purpose of the Blog, as the author claims, is to "help language teachers to utilize technology in their teachings by giving them options and discussing issues of integrating technology in their language teaching.”

The tools introduced in his Blog include:
1. Prezi, a new presentation tool that may terminate PowerPoint. A presentation sample and suggestions for language learners provided.
2. COCA, a powerful corpus for class use.
3. Engrade, an online grade book. Which can guarantee security, sustainability, and privacy.
4. Wordsift, a powerful vocabulary tool.
5. 10 learning tools, including Mindomo, Etherpad, Twitter, Wikispaces, Diigo, Simplybox, Hotpotatoes, Learning content Development System, Google docs and Pageflakes.
6. Features of Web 2.0 and their application in Education and Language learning.
7. How to use word processor to provide feedback on students' writing.

The posts are all good stuff for language teaching and learning, particularly for Chinese EFL teachers and learners, who need these tools for course development, appropriate language use, effective writing, and the building of a virtual English learning community and environment that encourage language input and language use.

The author also provides some journal links concerning CALL. Unfortunately, most Chinese EFL teachers may have no access to the journals requiring a licensed ID to sign in.

As I notice, there are 11 posts in total in the Blog, all posted during the year 2009, no updates in 2010. He has got only one follower, and received very limited number of comments and feedback from the audience. Probably the author feels too lonely and alone, and has lost interest and drives to move on. It appears to me that many Bloggers feel the same way. Only a few can grow and boom continuously.