checking in, reminding, thoughts on blog policy

I'm still waiting for Junai, Xuan Bui, Hala and Zoh to introduce themselves. Although I have bio statements on file from their applications, I don't see the point of posting introductions for them. Besides, I don't need the writing practice. LOL. I'm looking forward to reading more about Junai's experiences in Second Life what she thinks about it as a way to learn and practice English. Perhaps she will post an image of her SL avatar.


In case our new members are feeling shy, perhaps a welcome and introduction from "old hands" would encourage them to jump right in. Sadamu, Allun, Rajeev, Mata ~ please welcome newcomers and share your insights...

Welcomes & check-ins

Please post comments below to welcome new members, say hello to old friends, check in and let everyone know you are back ~ even if only to visit. Got questions? Use comments for those too.

New blog members start by following and commenting on posts to say hello, introduce themselves, ask questions, etc. After you've had a chance to settle in, get to know everyone and have decided you might want to "stick around" for a while, we'll invite you to become a contributor. That means you can write and post directly to the blog as well as commenting.

Here's a welcome to new blog member Junai. She's from Japan and will, I hope, tell us more about herself and what she expects from Blogging English. She's bound to have questions too.

Here are few links to older posts that might be helpful:

• Getting Started: what are your English learning stories?
• How this works
• Getting to know one another - I see here that it's time for me to update my introduction. What about yours? Life goes on and change is inevitable. 

PS: unless your messages and questions need to be private and confidential, please use the blog to communicate with us

Input - listening practice

Remember our discussion about learning and the importance of "input" (taking in language by reading and listening) for acquiring vocabulary and basic structures (grammar)? I am working up a long post explaining Krashen's theories about language learning.

In the meantime, someone at the EFI instructors' discussion group recommended Chinswing.com for leaving and listening to voice messages - a voice discussion forum that you can listen to.

First steps in using Chinswing
About Chinswing

If you check it out, please tell us know what you think - good or bad. It's new, so there are bound to be at a few bugs to cope with.

PS - don't forget to post your introductions and respond to other introductions if you have not yet done so:

If you have just reading (and commenting) privileges, you can post your introduction as a comment to "Getting to know one another." Read the other introductions and comment on some.

If you are listed as a "Contributor," you can introduce your self in either a new post or as a comment to "Getting to know one another."

Here are Nandita's and Sadamu's introductions.

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.