ブログのしゅくだい(BLOG HW)...due 8/31(M)

Please comment on the blogs of your classmates (at least three).

How is your ひらがな practice going so far? Here is a video showing how to write ひらがな with a calligraphy brush and ink. Hopefully this will give you ideas how to make 'stop' 'release' and 'hook'.

ブログのしゅくだい (BLOG HW) ... due 8/28(F)

Please complete the following 1-4 by Friday, 8/28.



1. About the Blog Project


First, start by reading the post titled “blog project”, which illustrates the purpose of this project. Scroll all the way down and you will see the entry titled “blog project”.

2. The Development of the Blog
On this page, if you scroll down you will see the post titled: “How to Open a Blog Account.” Please read this and develop your blog. Once you have started your blog please send the blog’s URL address to the instructor. For those who do not want to use their real names, it is also fine to use a pseudonym.

3. Post in English (or your native language)
Please write in English (or your native language) about why you chose to study Japanese, also may include what you are excited about.

4. Write sentences in Japanese (optional)
In hiragana, please write some sentences (You can use expressions from Chapter 1). For those who do not know how to type in Japanese, please click on the “Japaanese and Computer” link on the left-hand side of this page.

*If the hiragana appears too small on the page and is difficult to read, Apple users press the “Apple/command” key and the “+ “key together, (PC users press the “Control” key instead of the “Apple/command” key) and the characters will get larger.

You can click students' links at 'Last Year's Blog' on the right-hand side to see how their blogs look like.

HOW TO OPEN A BLOG ACCOUNT

In order to open a new blog account, please follow the instructions.

1. Go to http://www.blogger.com to create your blog.

• In order to receive comments from as many people as possible, please select "Settings," then "Comments," and choose either "Registered Users" or "Users with Google Accounts" under the "Who can comment?" section.

• If you want to know how to type Japanese, please click the link listed on the left side.

2. Send your blog address (URL) to the instructor (Hanabusa.1@nd.edu)

• If you have trouble opening a new account, please let the instructor know.

• If you already have a blog and you can use Japanese on it, you do not have to open a new account.

BLOG PROJECT!

Let’s start the Blog Project. For this class we would like you to keep a blog because it provides a place:



1. To share/express your happiness, surprise, excitement, and/or frustration, as well as any questions you might have, while learning the Japanese language (or any other topics).

• While studying new grammar and words is very important when learning a language, it is equally important to actually use the language in a real life context. You must not wait to express yourself only when you think you have mastered the language because language learning is basically an ongoing process. In the beginning you may use English or any languages to express yourself, but I recommend that you gradually switch to Japanese whenever you feel comfortable enough to express yourself in Japanese.

2. To communicate with your classmates and other people outside of class.

• Language learning is not limited to what you do for the course but also includes what you do and experience outside the class. We will create links to your classmates' blogs as well as blogs by students in other schools, so you can see what other people think and feel about Japanese language learning (as well as other topics). You are also strongly encouraged to leave comments on these blogs.

• We know that your Japanese language is very limited, but you can convey your intended meaning more effectively by utilizing other resources such as pictures and videos. Remember that people utilize not only language but also other resources such as tone of your voice, music, body language, picture, color, font style and size for communication.

3. To reflect (or evaluate) what you have done so far.

• Sometimes it is challenging to see our own progress or growth. Blogs help you to look back and see how you have changed through the course of your Japanese language learning.

• At the end of the semester your blog will be evaluated by the instructor, your classmates, other people, as well as yourself. We will discuss the criteria of evaluation later.