Why use a blog for teaching Language?

According to BBC, blogging improves English (http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/resources/blogging.shtml)

• Here are some other reasons for using blogs:

• To provide extra reading practice for students.
  This reading can be produced by the teacher, other students in the same class, or, in the case of comments posted to a blog, by people from all over the world.
• As online student learner journals that can be read by their peers.
  The value of using learner journals has been well documented. Usually they are private channels between teacher and student. Using a blog as a learner journal can increase the audience.
• To guide students to online resources appropriate for their level.
  The Internet has a bewildering array of resources that are potentially useful for your students. The problem is finding and directing your learners to them. For this reason, you can use your tutor blog as a portal for your learners.
• To increase the sense of community in a class.
  A class blog can help foster a feeling of community between the members of a class, especially if learners are sharing information about themselves and their interests, and are responding to what other students are writing.
• To encourage shy students to participate.
  There is evidence to suggest that students who are quiet in class can find their voice when given the opportunity to express themselves in a blog.
• To stimulate out-of-class discussion.
  A blog can be an ideal space for pre-class or post-class discussion. And what students write about in the blog can also be used to promote discussion in class.
• To encourage a process-writing approach.
  Because students are writing for publication, they are usually more concerned about getting things right, and usually understand the value of rewriting more than if the only audience for their written work is the teacher.
• As an online portfolio of student written work.
  There is much to be gained from students keeping a portfolio of their work. One example is the ease at which learners can return to previous written work and evaluate the progress they have made during a course.
• To help build a closer relationship between students in large classes. Sometimes students in large classes can spend all year studying with the same people without getting to know them well. A blog is another tool that can help bring students together.

Kids in circle

These are BEFORE-AFTER pictures of kids in the car

<--- BEFORE









<----AFTER! AAArghhhh!
Little monsters screaming in the car!!



Love them all
*mua* mua*

Bintan pix

BINTAN hols

Here are the kids at Bintan.
Click here for more photos

A Japanese haiku for you

bigger than I, you, me, us
beyond the meaning of elementary, mathematical, modal or syllogistic logic
sharing, growing the other to bring more and growth to oneself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHs2agRpzWA

Monday nights

These are the girls who were at Dimpy's bachelorette - top row Julia, me, Careina (my second year dormmate with Dimple), Ki Mun (Dimpy's friend from Mercer), Mishka (in my study group) -- first row, Kruti (2004 HBS), Dimple (my roommate for two years at Harvard) and Sheeba. We had a low key bachelorette -- no strippers, not much drunk drinking :P We indulged in a horrendously pricey but oh-so-good day at the spa. Without a skip in my step, after my lovely massage, I waffled down a pound of the best banana chips I ever had.

Here's a picture of Dimpy and me a month or two into graduate school. This was a picture taken at the first dorm party the dorm had. She had curly hair then and I had a waist -- in case you didn't know, waists often disappear once a mammal reaches adulthood, around 33 human years. We thought the guy in the middle was a nice guy and he still is except that I know now that he is a real sleaze with the girls! No wonder he was so friendly to us then!

THE BITTER PILL

Don't get too excited
You won't see me in a real wedding gown too soon
It's just a glimpse, taken at a bridalshower

I'm told it wont last long
Their shot at everlasting happiness
This glare of bitterness, gives me a headache

My echoes of this obsession becomes a problem
Do I think its a magic happy secure pill
Better take the bitter pill, than be unprepared later

Its not about the lack of offers
Some of which have come around
Many of which cannot be taken lightly, much of it so tempting

As for magic, happy secure pills
However bitter has been swallowed
Call it Ecstacy, I'm happy to do that before any marriage
Just for the sake of it

Part 2: This is a diary of our lives...

well, then it's up to the Han sisters to contribute.... ; )

Sunrise

Sunrise - view from my window 730am

A little angel awakens