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.

• During the semester, the instructor will give you some topics to write on the blog. In addition to the assigned topics, you should post a entry regularly since it will help you practice Japanese. 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. Cantonese 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
  My Job
  Japanese vocabulary
  My favorite Japanese TV show, movie, or anime

You can also use pictures and videos!

ブログプロジェクト（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, Cantonese, Mandarin, 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 three or four 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.