Blogs II

If your name does not appear on the list of links of students' blogs, it means you have not posted for the last two months. This also means that your status is 'libre'. Should you catch up, you'll need to email me your blog address again so you can be added back to the list -and the class.

IMPORTANT: Regarding your blogs

I have been looking at your blogs and noticed that most of you have stopped writing in them. Unfortunately, if you don't keep up with the assignment you won't be able to take the final as a 'regular' student, and when you have to present a portfolio for the oral, you won't be able to without any posts in your blog. For the last month and a half of class I'm changing the assignment to a News Magazine, and we'll all work on one blog instead of your individual blogs. It'll be less work perhaps but you will still be required to write on a weekly basis. We'll discuss this in class. However, you'll be expected to have your posts complete for the months of August and September as assigned at the beginning of the year. Unless you're planning to drop the course and not sit for the final until you take the subject again, you'll be better off completing the requirement for the class which includes your blog entries. I'll check them again next week and see if there's any progress. Take advantage of the extra time you're getting this week. Please, pass the word on to your classmates...

No class this week! So HAPPY STUDENTS' DAY!

As I'm attending FAAPI, I won't be able to celebrate your day with you. Anyway, I know you will somehow manage to do so without me ;)
Hey, you'll be present in one of my workshops at FAAPI!
So wish me luck!

Student response to blog assignment

I appreciate your honesty and openness to discuss both the pros and cons of the blog assignment. Below please find a summary of your responses to last class written task. The figure after some of the comments represents the number of times that particular issue was mentioned. I'll discuss this in class further but, meanwhile, here you can see the details.

Negative

Economic effort/too expensive – the assignment does not consider our socio-economic reality: 12

Time consuming: it takes me more than 30 min. – when it becomes a race against time it can be really exhausting – I’ve no Internet at home so I have to go to a cybercafé: 9

Difficult to keep up with weekly assignments: a lot of work – I dislike the idea of working under pressure: 5

Frustrating to learn to use a comp: creating and using a blog should be taught as part of the curricula: 4

I’d like to know if I’m using the right expressions and structures – most of us don’t get a comment from the teacher: 3

Don’t think using blog helps to improve language skills - it’s been an obstacle rather than help to improve language skills – I haven’t noticed any improvement in my learning a foreign language: 3

We’ve no skills to use tech: 2

Two entries per week would be better

No typing skills

Resistance to tech

Mental effort

Usually run out of ideas to write about

We’re not prepared with the best tech support

Social problems (did not specify)

Difficult to find good articles to read

Oral presentations are scary

Screen light affects eyesight

Positive

Learning to use computers – I’ve learnt many things about using a computer – good to be pushed to use a comp: 5

Improves writing: developed my fluency – I write and think faster in English – when I read my entries I realize I use expressions that I picked up from other people and I thought I would never use – journal writing improved my language: 4

Good to keep up with tech – keeps us involved with the world of tech: 3

I enjoy it: 3

More positive than negative – quite beneficial to me – writing in a blog keeps students in a continuous hard-working task: 3

Enlarged my vocab – you need to develop a rich vocabulary in order to remain faithful to those thoughts: 3

Good experience – future teachers should be familiar with tech: 2

Idea is great: 2

The experience helps me explore my thoughts: 2

Not difficult to create and use it

Interesting: I had to create an email address

I can now communicate with friends via email

I’ve learnt to use the Internet and a blog

I’ve improved my typing skills

I have my own personal space in the blog

I’ve written more things in English than in all the three years since I started at Lola Mora

Interesting resource

Choosing the topics to write about, ok

I generate ideas better and faster

We can be spontaneous and creative

By going through the process of writing a journal entry, we can express our ideas, experiences, stories, etc. fluently and spontaneously, and mainly use language flexibly

Gives me the chance to let my classmates know a little bit more about me, and me to learn more about them

It’s motivational

Writing helps me overcome stress: I talk about what bothers and makes me sad – like going to my shrink but cheaper!

Easier to communicate with teacher and classmates

IMPORTANT: Wrong message about Tuesday Class

I want to apologize for my confusion with the schedule of class for today, Tuesday August 21. I do not have class with you today, SO you are not attending J. Etcheverry's lecture with me. I'm sorry again and hope this will cause no further inconvenience. Please, pass the word. See you tomorrow! (when we DO have class)

Tomorrow's Parcial

Sorry I could not make it to class yesterday. I just wanted to clarify a few points about tomorrow's parcial. It'll include:

• Fahrenheit 451: the whole book even though we could not finish our analysis in class.
• Textbook: the first four (4) units. You need to study Unit 4 on your own. Your workbook has plenty of exercises.
• Creative writing piece: you need to bring a revised piece of writing from your blog. It should be a hard copy, typed with a complete header and double-spaced. It counts as a practico.
  

The blog entries and your reading log are due in August. If so far you have not started a blog, you should do so over break. I will not accept handwritten journals in August.

Best luck and inspiration for tomorrow's parcial, and have a great winter break!!!

News for your relief!

In recognition of your good work since the beginning of the year, I've decided to postpone the deadline for the blog completion and presentation of article reviews until the first week of class when we're back in August. This way you can focus on preparing for the first parcial. HOWEVER, your best piece from your blog MUST be turned in on Thursday - in hard copy, double-spaced, etc.

Hope this encourages you to keep working as hard and as well as you have throughout this very intense first term.