ESL Blogs

The year of 2016 was started without Tara Benwell's presence in this wonderful site, MyEC. I was wondering how this site would run without her writing challenges or her encouragement for new members. Although her activities were not that much, she came once to thrice a week, but this beautiful admin always left good atmosphere here. The bloggers seemed quite thrilled to write various topics of blogs.

If you see the list of monthly archives on blog section, the number of blog from January to December are inclined to decreasing. It's pitiful to see the number of blogs less than 200 every month. This number is quite far compared to the years before. It was more than 200 or 300 blogs every month. What's the matter? Where are our bloggers? Time change, people change. But, I hope the enthusiasm doesn't change. Nevertheless, I saw less advertisement blogs in this year. Thumbs up for the admin, Sir Josef and the team. :)

Please set your seat belt and be patient, you will read my long blog. ^^

In JANUARY 2016, we were excited about the first challenge from Lady Anne. She shone this MyEC again with her critical and encouraging comments. Unfortunately, she left MyEC again without any trace. :D But at the end of the year, she said she was really busy with her work. Oh, life in this virtual world is really a choice. ^^ Stranger in the Night also made interesting and fun challenge. Does anyone know where he is now? At home? Sleeping? :D I guess he wants to breathe the atmosphere in outer MyEC for 'a moment' ^^. Expector Smith, our active blog mod, also made a challenge in that month. His grammar challenges always gain learner's knowledge like me. Later, he made at least one grammar challenge for each month in this year. Seeker was also very active in January as he made another story challenge for bloggers. Four of them were incredible! We still have many challengers from members in this year. This was just a good start!

During my stay here, I never thought about greeting newbie. But, MARY, the awesome girl, who cared about MyEC, shared her idea about greeting new members. Then, the Welcoming Committee has been alive again started from FEBRUARY 2016. Some members like Teacher Danny, Mishaikh, Adaline, Seeker, Sadar, Nimzaf, Dara Gino (now he is the one who is willing continuously to greet newbie), our new active member Risty Aven, and also the new admin of Welcoming Committee, Expector Smith greeted new members of MyEC with their own way. Oops! I forgot, me, too ^^, and I’m sorry if I forget some ^^. 

For members who don’t know much about this, let me explain a little. Every member of MyEC may greet all new members. You can greet them with greeting cards or written text. Better you give them guidance on how to utilize this site well. Just be sure that you greet them in good manner, unless you want to be reported. :p. However, it is safer to greet newbie if you join Welcoming Committee group. So, new members will not misjudge you as a teaser. :D

Started from MARCH 2016, Teacher Danny, an English Native Speaker made bunch of blogs about idioms and proverbs. I was not really involved in this kind of blog. Personally, my brain is too hard to learn some idioms at one time. :D But then, in APRIL 2016, I found another interesting post here. Test and test! :D I love grammar test. :D The first blog of teacher Tanya, a fluent English teacher, teacher Danny’s wife, which caught my eyes was "Find and Correct a Mistake". Woww, she made some other kinds of blogs more and more to teach us grammar in this club during the year of 2016. What a generous teacher! I meet you again. ^^ However, it is so tiring to take the tests again and again. :D I, myself couldn’t attentively remember my mistake quickly. I’m so sorry, my great teachers Tanya & Danny, we just need to have a rest for a moment sometimes. Please don’t stop teaching us. We will never forget your kindness, great teachers. ^^

Well, it was a long story that the group GUESS MY WORD is created by me, MAY 2016. This game was actually started by Coral in her discussion. It was continued by Estanis in a new discussion, then, me, Ann, Saba, and Coral again with the same title. We didn’t think this was interesting anymore. So, Mohammad suggested us, players make a group. I was surprised that many friends really supported that, more than 200 members were invited in the group by players, while I myself only invited pioneers, about 10. :D Thank you so very much. ^^ I remember that Mishaikh, one of the great bloggers in MyEC, didn’t like to be a host before. But in this group, most players admitted that he was the best player as well as the best host. :D Learning vocabulary by this way is very interesting to me, so is to some members. Any of you who want to join this group and PLAY, you are so much welcomed. We’ll play again ASAP, friends, don’t worry! ^^

JUNE reminded us about June Blogathon by Tara Benwell in 2015. There was a great enthusiasm for many bloggers to write more and more as we should reach the number of 600 blogs. :D In JUNE 2016, Seeker made some inspiration (writing challenge) to write more, Expector still made his grammar challenge, Teacher Tanya & Danny also still made some tests as well as challenges. However, many bloggers and members in this group were not active, so was I. I was in my hometown, Ramadhan time and Ied ul-Fitr. ^^

In JULY 2016, Teacher Danny made a new game in a new group. It is JEOPARDY GAME. Discussing questions about various kinds of things in many fields can really widen our knowledge. Just one thing, this game will drain a little of your brain and time. :D Anytime, anyone, please join and PLAY with us. ^^

Guys, I know it will be boring and tiring to read my long blog. LOL… I’ll try another way.. ^^.

AG made photo challenge in APRIL 2016. It was a lively moment because the challenge was combined with game. :D. He also made another cheerful writing challenge in the end of NOVEMBER 2016. Wordless Wednesday was his mainstay blog. ^^ Our dearest kindness sweetest Evangelina made her first challenge in MAY 2016. She always encouraged almost all members with her thoughtful comments on every post. How unusually kind she is! I wonder where she got the strength. Lol… :p

You must have known this famous member in MyEC, Luci. She challenged bloggers to write, actually from FEBRUARY. But, she woke MyEC again up with bunch of challenges from OCTOBER to NOVEMBER 2016. I heard she was sick when she was very active in MyEC. I hope she will be so active again without any sickness :D ^^. In those lively moments, our active and creative photo mod, Grace, also enlivened MyEC more with her photo challenges. This will always be my concern though I don’t always join every photo challenge.

Hey, wait, I haven’t finished yet. :D *fiuhh..

Robbie, our video mod, who is ready to compete with Estanis with his baking hobby :D, also made writing challenges in NOVEMBER and DECEMBER. His first challenge about dishes made mouth of members watering. :D Expector Smith also made a sequel blog about Tips on English Usage until the end of the year. The last, he challenged bloggers to write about Memory of MyEC and you’re reading my participation now. ^^

I, myself would like to thank all the challengers and teachers so that this site is saved from getting sinked. :D Thank you so much! and ops! I forgot that I also made my first challenge in DECEMBER 2016. ^^ :D

My friends, let me tell you about the other sections, please…^^ The discussion is the hottest place in this site. LOL… I mean, I watched the discussions sometimes. They were very interesting to read. However, I wasn't really involved so often since it needed much time (at least for me) and would drain my brain. :D I loved to see Ma'am Nadira's presence lately in the discussions.

The posted videos in this site didn’t have as many response as blog posts did. However, they have loyal viewers. There were useful, interesting, fun videos posted by some members. The videos from Teacher Vicki are always being waited by me. Nevertheless, I might have missed a few of her amazing videos that are very useful for learners. I may watch again, later. ^^

If you were not that active in the year of 2016, please see the main page of MyEC now. You will see there are some changes. You will also find some most active members, top blogs, photos, videos, and discussions. Sir Josef and admin team had tried to improve MyEC keep interesting. I think, I like the main page now. Thank you so much for your awesome idea, Sir. ^^

I have so much to say more, but I know you are getting bored and tired of reading now. :D I’m tired of writing, too. :D :D

In brief, there were many great bloggers, many great photographers, great teachers, cool and smart debaters, commenters, gamers, loyal likers, and viewers, also dearest friends which will be impossible to mention all. :D Various kinds of posts as well as sequel blog posts which are interesting and useful to read. It’s not a wrong thing to read the old posts. Old is Gold, a friend said. :) Not to forget, I think the moderators of MyEC were more active in the year of 2016. I could see them all, but Sir T-Mal. I know, it is probably because I very rarely signed in MyEC Chat Room. ^^   

For all the members of MyEC who were involved in the activities in the year of 2016, you are all awesome folks. Never think that if I don't mention your name here, then I forget you, TOTALLY WRONG. YOU ARE IN MY MEMORY in this BIG family MyEC. A sad story that some mods or members were not around us anymore, let’s pray the best for them. People come and go, but our memory should remain. And keep your spirit up! 

 END! :D

----------------------------------------------------------------

This is also as the review of my second year in MyEC. I know it is a bit late, as I wish I could post at the end of December 2016. I'm tired of proofreading this, too. So tell me some errors, please. I hope you find it useful. Write and write more,, you could write your own experiences or thoughts, never be afraid to join any challenges, share your hobbies or activities, learn grammar by writing more......in this wonderful learning site, MyEC. Keep your finger cross! ^_^

Thank you so very much for reading my loooong blog… :D I’ll be very glad to hear your views. ^_^