にほんごでかきませんか

Now you've learned some verbs, you can tell us what you do/did. For example...

せんしゅうのきんようびに、わたしのともだちは、わたしのうちへきました。わたしは、ともだちとにほんのテレビをみました。それから、たこやきをたべました。(^^) 　たこやきのしゃしんをとりました。しゃしんは、ここです。

こんしゅうのしゅうまつ（weekend）に、にほんごでブログをかきませんか。

みんなのしつもん (questions）

My answers to some questions asked in class today...

• Weren't there any restaurants in Japan before?
I think レストラン refers to a place where Western-style dishes are served. Since Japan had been closed to foreign countries until the late 19th century, I suppose there weren't any レストラン... We have words like 飲食店（いんしょくてん）and 料理店（りょうりてん）which I think are Japanese equivalents of レストラン. The first one means "a store where you drink and eat" and the second "a store of cooking."

• My high school friend said ヤニ-something means "to smoke"...
I looked it up in an online dictionary and found that ヤニる is a slang for "to smoke." ヤニ is cigarette tar, and people started to use it as a synonym of たばこ in colloquial speech. Then, る, a suffix that verbifies a noun, was attached to ヤニ to make it a verb "to smoke."

10/3 (W)：きょうのラボ（らぼ）

Today, we're going to work on the self-introduction piece. If you need help, ask your classmates.

1) Revise the self-introduction piece based on the comments from your classmates.

2) Record the self-introduction using Wimba.

1. Log into CourseWorks.
2. Click on "DISCUSSION" and log in again.
3. Once you see Wimba Voice Board, click on "New" and start recording your self-introduction. For more information on how to use Wimba, go to: http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/itc/wimbahelp/student/voiceboard_s.html
   

３) Type the self-introduction piece in Japanese (no roma-ji) on your blog.

• You may modify information about yourself if you do not wish to reveal your real identity.

4) Listen to your classmates' self-introductions and comment.

1. Highlight the posting to which you want to respond.
2. Click on "Reply".
3. Either type or record your reply.
4. Click on "Send" when you are done.

5) Post your recording on your blog (optional).

• If you want to post recording on your blog, you need to let me know so that I can export the file as MP3 (I'm the only person who are authorized to do it).
  
• Upon your request, I will export the file and upload it onto the program's server. Then, I will email you the URL of your file so that you can embed the player in your post.

1. In "Create" under "Posting" in Blogger, click on the "Edit Html" tab.
2. Copy and paste the tag below to the place where you want the player to appear.
   
3. Click on "PUBLISH" and check your blog to make sure that the player works properly.

EMBED tag
*embed src="URL_EMAILED_TO_YOU" width="170" height="30" autoplay="false" autostart="false" controller="true"#*/embed#

In this tag, replace:

• * with <
• # with >
• URL_EMAILED_TO_YOU with the real URL I will send you after exporting and uploading the file
  

Blog: Evaluation Criteria

I compiled your thoughts about what a good blog is.

• Language: Try to use Japanese
• Frequency: Post regularly
• Content Quality: Something about yourself, relevant to class/Japanese, honest, creative, informative
• Comments: Comment to others, reply to comments
• Others: Organization, visual, use of Media (photos, videos, etc.)

What do you think about them as our blog's evaluation criteria? Do you agree? Disagree? Let your opinions heard by commenting on to this post.

日本のスーパー（すーぱー）はどこですか

If you would like to try Japanese groceries, there are some good stores.

• JAS Mart: Broadway between 110th and 111th St. / St. Marks Place between 2nd & 3rd Ave

• Sunrise Mart: Stuyvesant St. at 3rd Ave.

This web site lists more: aozora NYC: http://www.aozoranyc.com/food/grocery/manhattan.htm

Happy Shopping!

What is a good blog?

I would like all of you to tell me what constitutes a good blog? Please give your thoughts by posting on your blog by Wednesday, September 26 (tomorrow). Then, please read your group members' posts and comment on them (agree? disagree? etc.)

Your comments will serve as a guideline for you at the end of the semester when your own blogs and those of your classmates’ will be evaluated.

What do you think about learning Japanese so far?

Well, we've studied Japanese for 3 weeks so far. Have you been enjoying the experience? Or maybe frustrated? Please share your thoughts on learning Japanese, our Japanese class, etc. by writing about them on your blog. Either English or Japanese is OK, but please make sure that everyone can understand.

How to Put YoutTube Videos on Blog

Switzer-san asked me how to put (embed) YoutTube videos on his blog. Maybe you already knew it, but I thought such "how-to" would be useful to others who don't. So, I decided to put it on this class blog.

1. Go to YouTube and find a video you want to post on your blog.
2. On the right side, you should see the information about the video you chose. Among them is "Embed". Copy the code.
3. Go to the section where you create a new post on Blogger. Click on "Edit Html" at the upper-right corner. Paste the code you got from Step 2.

When you publish your post, the video should be embedded in your post. You can also post your own videos. Use Blogger Help to learn how to do it.

ありがとう

Here's the video we watched in class.

ありがとう by いのうえようすい・おくだたみお

Communicate with Others in Blogs

Have you finished creating your blog? How about posting the first entry? It's not as difficult as you might have though, is it?

Now, let's interact with other "bloggers"! Please visit your group members' blogs and leave comments. Don't forget to reply to the comments you received!

You're also encouraged to explore the Japanese-language learners' blogoshpere---there are students like you who are using blogs to communicate in Japanese.

• Columbia's First-Year Japanese: http://nihongofall07.blogspot.com/ (Sato-sensei & Nazikian-sensei's sections)
• University of Virginia 1st year students' blog project: http://uvajapanese102.blogspot.com/

You'll find more links to blogs by upper-level students (including my 2nd-year students). Look for the links under "にほんごのクラス (Other Japanese Classes).