ひらがなのビデオ (HIRAGANA no Video)

みなさん、こんにちは！

How is your ひらがな practice going so far? Here is a video showing how to write ひらがな with a calligraphy brush and ink. Hopefully this will give you ideas how to make 'stop' 'release' and 'hook'. Spend your time practicing ひらがな this weekend! 

ブログのしゅくだい (Blog HW): due 8/29 (M)

Please complete the following 1-4 by Monday, 8/29.


1. About the Blog Project


First, start by reading the post titled “blog project”, which illustrates the purpose of this project. Scroll all the way down and you will see the entry titled “blog project”.

2. The Development of the Blog
On this page, if you scroll down you will see the post titled: “How to Open a Blog Account.” Please read this and develop your blog. 

3. Post in English
Please write in English about why you chose to study Japanese, also may include what you are excited about.

4. Write sentences in Japanese (optional)
In hiragana, please write some sentences (You can use expressions from Chapter 1). For those who do not know how to type in Japanese, please click on the “Japanese and Computer” link on the left-hand side of this page.

5. You can click students' links at 'ND Japanese Blogs' on the right-hand side to see how their blogs look like.

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.　

• For those who do not want to use their real names, it is totally fine to use a pseudonym.　
• In order to receive comments from as many people as possible, please select "Settings," then "Comments," and choose "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 left side.

2. Submit your URL to CANVAS-ASSIGNMENTS "Due 8月24日（木）". 

3. Try making your blog site more personal, by putting a unique name, changing background, design, layout, etc. 

• If you have trouble opening a new account, please let the instructors know.
• If you already have a blog and you can use Japanese on it, you do not have to open a new account.

BLOG PROJECT!

Let’s start the Blog 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).

• 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.

• 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 or any other language to express yourself, but I recommend that you gradually mix with Japanese whenever you feel comfortable enough to express yourself in the language.

 

2. To share your extensive listening/viewing activities with your classmates. Input (=listening, viewing, reading) is extremely important for your language study. We strongly encourage you to spend time outside of class watching anime, movies, drama, game shows, other YouTube videos, listening to music, etc. Find something you can enjoy!

 

3. 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. We will create links to your classmates' blogs as well as blogs by students in other schools, so you can see what other people think and feel about Japanese language learning (as well as other topics). You are also strongly encouraged to leave comments on these blogs.

 

4. 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.