チャイナタウン

私（わたし）はチャイナタウンが大好（だいす）きです。シカゴのチャイナタウンへ１０回（かい）いじょう行（い）きました。３月（がつ）にニューヨークに来（き）ましたが、その時（とき）もチャイナタウンへ行（い）きました。ニューヨークのチャイナタウンは大（おお）きいですから、とてもおもしろいです。いつも飲茶（やむちゃ）をします。そして、デザートに、杏仁豆腐（あんにんどうふ）やごまだんごを食（た）べます。時々（ときどき）パンやにも行（い）きます。



８月にニューヨークへひっこししました。それから、２回（かい）チャイナタウンへ行（い）きました。また行（い）きたいです。そして、たくさん中国（ちゅうごく）の食（た）べ物（もの）を食（た）べたいです！

＊しゃしんはシカゴのチャイナタウンです。


たんご(Vocab.)

いじょう：more than
その時（とき）：At that time
飲茶（やむちゃ）：dim sum
ひっこしします：to move
また：again
行きたいです：to want to go

いいブログはどんなブログですか？

クラスでいいブログについてはなしましたね。

Please read your group members' posts and comment on them (agree? disagree? etc.)

Your comments will serve as a guideline for you at the end of the semester when your own blogs and those of your classmates’ will be evaluated.

ACTIVITIES ON SEPTEMBER 16TH/17TH

Today, please complete exercises 1-4. (If you do not finish in class please finish at home). Those who have time please complete exercise 5 as well.

1. About the Blog Project

* We will start a blog project today. 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

1. 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. If you have any questions, please ask a nearby classmate any questions first, before asking the instructor.
2. Once you have started your blog please send the blog’s URL address to your instructor. (Hamada: hh2373@).


3. Write a Self-Introduction in Japanese

1. In hiragana, please write the first draft of your self-introduction. (Please do not publish it online yet). For those who do not want to use their real names, it is also fine to use a pseudonym. For those who do not know how to type in Japanese, please click on the “Japanese and Computer” link on the right-hand side of this page. If after reading the information you still have questions please first ask a classmate before asking the instructor.
2. After writing your self-introduction, form groups of 2-3 students to peer edit your self-introduction. (Is your hiragana written correctly?) *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.
3. After everyone in the group has read and corrected each others’ self-introductions, click “publish post” which then allows your post to be published.

4. Post in English (or your native language)

* Please write in English (or your native language) about why you chose to study Japanese, also include what you are excited about, and you find difficult after your first 2 weeks of class.

*If you use a translating site (links are to the right), then everyone can read it so it does not have to be in English!

5. Comment

1. Please comment on your classmate’s blogs.
2. Please comment on the blogs of your fellow first year international classmates (from Malaysia and France).

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 right side.


2. Send your blog address (URL) to the instructor.

* 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.


3. Post a blog entry regularly.

* If you have no idea about what to write, please see the following suggested topics.


I can read Japanese!
In speaking Japanese!
Reasons I am studying Japanese
My dream
My Japanese friends
Japanese grammar vs. English grammar
Speaking vs. Writing
Listening vs. Reading
My daily schedule
I have no time to study!
I spent so much time studying, but..
My hobbies
My classmates
What I like/dislike about Japan or Japanese
Daily news
Japanese writing system
Kanji
Japanese vocabulary
Favorite lab exercise
Voc quiz
My favorite Japanese TV show, movie, or anime

* You can also use pictures and videos!


(Evaluation)
In the end of the semester your blog will be evaluated by the instructor, your classmates as well as yourself. We will discuss the criteria of evaluation in the middle of the semester.

BLOG PROJECT

Blog Project:

Welcome to the Blogging 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. For this project I will ask you to form a group with two or three students. The purpose of the group is to encourage and monitor each other (e.g., leaving a comment on each other’s blog and making sure everyone is following the schedule). I will ask you to change groups once or twice during the semester.

* We will also create links to your classmates' blogs as well as blogs by students in other sections, other levels, and other schools, so you can see what other people think and feel about Japanese language learning (as well as other topics). You are also 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.