Clarification

Most of the links I provide in my blog (Instructional Technology Resources for Language Teachers) take you to websites that have useful links to many different activities and resources, and often even to other sites with more activities and resources. When you do your listings for your own blogs, remember to site where you got a resource from, but also say which specific resource you would use from that general website for your context. For example, if you choose a website that gives you access to wonderful videos for your class, list that website, but also choose a video that you would use in your context and briefly say why you chose it, what for, etc. Ideally, you should come up with materials from different websites for each of your postings, but if you can't, it's OK to choose some materials from the same websites (e.g., two YouTube videos from the same website that recommends many videos).

First (introductory) Blog

After you successfully created your blog:

• Post your first entry,
• Tag this entry as "purpose" in the box that reads "labels for this post" below so that we all know where to look for general information about your blog.
• Give this post a title.
• Provide at least the following information: purpose and intended audience, your chosen teaching context, and preferred type of comments in your blog. Although visitors may comment what they wish, it might help you get the kind of information you prefer if you state it clearly.
  

Make this entry personal. Organize the information in any manner you wish, and add whatever you think the visitors to your blog might want to know.

DUE DATE: 10/17/09

I am very much looking forward to viewing your blogs!

How to Create a Blog

Here is what you need to do to create your own blog:

1. Start a Google account if you don't already have one. You can do this at gmail.com
2. Go to Blogger.com and set up a new account using your gmail address.
3. Choose a topic for your blog. It has to be on teaching a foreign/second language. For example, you could choose a topic such as Teaching Children to Read and Write Better in French, or Web Resources for Adult Learners of German, or Media Resources for the English Class, etc. Please do not choose a broad topic such as Teaching French. Make sure your blog identifies a specific audience and, if possible, specific skills or types of resources.
4. Choose a name (preferably short) and url for your blog that reflects your topic, and then provide a good description of your topic for your audience. This description should clearly describe the intended audience and contents of your blog. Please choose a topic that is relevant for your teaching context.
   
5. Follow the steps provided in Blogger.com to create your user profile (add a picture!), and select your choice of layout and settings. You are free to choose any kind of setting and gadgets for your blog. I only require the following:
   a) Allow comments from your classmates. To do this, choose Settings-Comments-Show-Registered Users-Embedded Below Posts.
   b) Select Show Posting Date. (In fact, what you need to do is *not* select Hide Posting Date. Blogger shows the posting date by default.)
   If you decide to continue your blog after the course finishes, you can easily remove these setting requirements by changing the setting options.
   
6. Post a comment here (like in my comment example below). Choose subscribe, then post a comment that includes the url of your blog. This way I'll be able to copy it and provide a link to our blog in Teach L2.
   

Welcome to Methods Teaching Foreign/Second Languages

Welcome to the world of blogging!

Here we will share instructional resources for teaching foreign/second languages, suggest specific activities to use the resources in class or at home, comment on the strengths and limitations of the resources, suggest ways to enhance the resources with other materials, comment on others' suggestions, share concerns, ask questions, answer questions, and the like.

To know more about Blogging, see Blogs in Plain English