How this works

How this works is for now and could change: I'm open to suggestions - but not bound to following them.

To post or even comment on posts, class members have to join what blogger.com refers to as the "team" and become blog members. Feel free to start your own blog and link to the class blog.

Your role and participation expectations:
Posting is optional but encouraged. Expect me to nudge you with exhortations to post and participate. However, I do expect you to comment on posts. This does not require a lot of writing. Often a sentence or two will do. Your comments should be relevant, well thought out, and contribute to discussion.

What you will see here:
My rambling essays - some on learning English and other language learning in general, others on literature, reading, or whatever strikes my fancy. Consider it reading practice.

Questions that I expect answers to and comments on. I'll try to close even essays with a question for you as I did with "Getting Started."

Getting Acquainted - I know each of you (some better than others) but you do not know each other. So post intorductions and take the time to get acquainted. I may post a questionnaire to facilitate the process.

Learning related topics - metacognition, linguistics, how the brain processes language, learning styles, cognition, study skills, learning practices as culturally determined.

Language topics - literature, reading, poetry, and so forth

Links - learning, reading, ESL, lessons, activities - but not just that. Post links about your home, your country, your interests, and so on.

Topical subjects - avoiding, of course, extreme positions while maintaining openness to discourse on a wide variety of topics.

And more - post on anything you want

Needless to say, we will observe basic netiquette

Getting Started

Once more into the breach - I leap into blogdom again. The operating principle is to use the blog as a teaching tool for my online ESL class for EFI. I was at the point where I have to try something new or cancel the class.

But blogging English is not just about learning (or teaching) English as a Second (or other) language. It is also about the language itself and the apparent fascination it holds for me. If the blog is only about ESL and the class, then I will only get frustrated when none or few participate. My students no doubt have their own feelings and frustrations about English. They can vent them here, either as original posts or as comments.

I will blog resources, links, lessony stuff - write some posts in language more accessible for beginner readers. On the hand, they can also work on stretching their reading skills.