2. Check out this site: http://www.manythings.org/
There are TONS of things to do there . .. check out the sidebar on the left.

3. Take a Blogthing quiz. (Embed the HTML code they give you at the end.)
I did: Where should you spend your summer?, What color red are you?, and How peaceful are you?

Your classmate, Amy, who found these on my blog did: What color red are you? and What Flavor Martini Are You?

There are lots more fun quizzes there. . . go try one!

4. You could make an igoogle page.
I love mine; it is my homepage both at school and home.

5. You could sign up for Google Reader and begin adding your fave blogs to the reader.  It allows you to star and share your fave blog posts that belong to others.

6. You can sign up to send and receive postcards from http://http://postcrossing.com/.

Your Classmates Blogs Worth Checking Out:

http://cheweiyu.vox.com/

http://amyniu.vox.com/ 

http://icymei.vox.com/

http://timothy18.vox.com/

http://alice12817.vox.com/

http://alacle116200.vox.com/

Of course, there are also lots of ideas on my vox blog feel free to take my post ideas and do something similar (about you, in your own words) on your blog.

I keep a list of ones I think are helpful and well done here on my del.icio.us account. Look around, try some out, and let me know which ones you like and why.

One of the best videocasts I’ve seen is the Daily English Show created by a young woman from New Zealand who is teaching English in Japan.

Let’s watch some in class today:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9m4LDc_8DQU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ropIv1gtGg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s2_ElXplW1g
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X3x_AoZKG2A

EF Pod English is also a cool youtube site for English language learning.  You can watch on youtube or download podcasts from itunes.
Let’s watch some together:

Computers–Upper Intermediate
Pets–Elementary
Flims–Upper Intermediate
Food–Basic 

Here is great video teaching how to listen learn from listening to things online.

I need to post lots of things here and will soon. please forgive me for being so behind in keeping yall up to date.

You may send me a file with the URLs of things you have “redone” one time in the next two weeks if you would like me to grade again your online work.

Today, we are going to talk about vlogging.

Your next assignment (in addition to posting at least twice and commenting on other’s blogs) is to either (choose one)

• interview yourself or
• exchange interviews with a classmate or
• be interviewed by Amanda (make an appointment)

Here are two examples of some EFL students in Greece (the volume is low, so it is a little hard to hear them):

• Kostas’s Interveiw and Skywalker Greece’s blog
  
• Phoebe’s Interview and Retziki Girl Strikes Back

I have also interviewed my brother on video before.

Requirements:

• Vlog in English!!
• ask/answer at least 5 questions
• put on YouTube and then add to your Vox
• you have two weeks to work on this (post before April 11, 13:00)

Other Notes:

• You can put YOUR interview (you ANSWERING questions) on YOUR blog –OR– You can put your classmate’s interview (you ASKING questions) –OR– BOTH!!
• Keep the Vlogs short. Between 30-90 seconds. If 90 seconds is not enough for 5+ questions, you could post each question as a seperate video.
• If you don’t have a way to video/record yourself, make an appointment with Amanda. She can help you.
• Feel free to practice and record your interview several times until you are happy with how it looks and sounds.
• Feel free to edit your vlogs with software–adding graphics or text (in English)–if you know how.
• Ask FUN questions . . . not boring questions (we’ll talk about some ideas in class).
• Be CREATIVE!!!

Amanda is HAPPY TO HELP YOU. BUT . . . YOU MUST ASK FOR THE HELP!!!!!!!

She doesn’t know what you need till you tell her!!! ok?

Vox has groups you can join.

You can search for groups on vox here.

One group you might be interested in joining is “Blogging in English.” They are a group of people trying to use blogging on vox to help them improve their English ability–sounds like you right? Well, join if you want to see if you make some new friends from around the world.

1. Flickr

a. There should be between 40-50 pictures posted to our flickr group. There are only 4. Let’s learn to do that now.

b. Then, go and look at the pictures there. Comment on some of your classmates pictures.

d. Have you changed your buddy icon?

e. Have you added a profile?

f. Are you tagging your photos?

g. Are you changing/writing good titles?

h. Are you adding descriptions? (don’t post the description in the comment part)

i. Search other groups and other photos on flickr. Leave comments, join groups, post photos.

j. Have you added Amanda has a friend?  (Add your classmates and others too!!)

k. Are you are a member of our Internet English flickr group?

2. Vox

a. Most of you are doing well with posting on Vox!! Keep up the good work posting great stuff. (Remember 2 a week = C; for B or A post more, be creative)

b. Have you changed your member photo?

c. Have you added a profile?

d. Do you have a creative blog title (not “Sally’s Blog”)?

e. Do you have a description line under your blog title?

f. Are you tagging your posts?

g. Are you writing good titles for your posts?

h. Visit others online. Leave comments!!! Comments are like gold to a blogger! Don’t forget to respond to comments people leave on your blog.

i. Have you added Amanda as a friend and neighbor?  (Have you added some classmates or others has neighbors or friends?)

3. Netiquette and Abbreviations.

a. Online communication–blogs, email, online forums, and instant messaging—has a certain etiquette which is often called “netiquette.” 供電腦網路上使用的習慣規定(是由net”網路“和etiquette”禮儀,同業之間的規矩“兩字所造成的).

b. Abbreviations are used online to make communicatio/typing faster. For example, do you know what IMO means? What about cu or brb?

DOWNLOAD THIS HANDOUT!!

4. Videos Online

a. The most popular site for videos online is YouTube.

b. Look at Amanda’s blog. Can you see she has added a few YouTube Videos?

c. It is really easy to add a video to your blog!!!

d. Do not just add videos without adding at least one or two sentences explaining why you put it on your blog.

It also introduces abbreviations that you might see out in the blogosphere.

1. First, lets review . . . You should now be able to:

1. 1. Make design changes on your vox blog
   2. Write posts
   3. Use Tags
   4. Comment on posts (on your blog and other’s)
   5. Write and Change your profiles
   6. Change your member pictures (buddy icons or avatars)

2. Title and Description (or tag line)

Please make sure your blog has a great name! There are millions of blogs in the world–one thing that can make your blog special is a great blog name. This is taken from typepads design page, please read it for help in “naming your blog.”

A weblog is often a reflection of its writer. Because of this, you’ll want to give your weblog the type of name that captures who you are and what you’re writing about.

Weblog writers often find their audience serendipitously; therefore, your weblog name should be memorable and unique. Avoid names like “weblog”, “ramblings”, or “writings”, for they will not stand out in directories or listings (if you so desire the traffic).

Be succinct and let your personality shine. Nicknames often work well, as well as catch words from books, sayings, or quotes.

3. A Note on Tags

1. 1. Sometimes they are “comma seperated” and sometimes they are “space seperated.”
   2. Look at my “interests” and black’s “interests.” See the difference?
   3. Vox tags are “comma seperated” while Flickr tags are “space seperated.”

4. Let’s Play with Flickr.

1. 1. You should already have an account (only 7 or 8 people added Amanda as a friend–if you have not done this please do so now). These people added me:
      1. 1. alice12817
         2. anna740922
         3. bon93012
         4. jay4413
         5. say282001
         6. shawn_carter_wei
         7. skitlife
   2. Log in to Flickr.
   3. Click “Upload Pictures” and follow the directions. Upload some pictures to your flickr account. Don’t forget to add tags.
   4. Now go to Vox. –> Compose –> Click the “Photos” Button. –> Click the Tab for “Flickr”
   5. One time and one time only you need to allow vox to see your flickr pictures. Now, you can use flickr to host your photos and post them to vox via flickr.
   6. You can also add “Blog This” to your flickr account.
      1. 1. Go here. –>Your Blogs –> Edit. –> Add your Vox blog!

5. Why use Flickr when you can use Vox?

1. 1. Because flickr is awesome!
   2. They have sets and collections to organize your photos.
   3. They have groups to join.
      1. 1. I want you to join two groups right now. Dekita and Our Class’s group.
         2. You can join groups about Taiwan, food, Taiwanese Food, dogs, flowers, what’s in your bag, and MUCH MUCH More!!!!!
   4. You can make notes on pictures.
      1. 1. Click here, here, or here.
         2. You can leave notes on your pictures or on pictures someone else posts.
   5. Don’t forget . . . TAG your flickr photos!!! Tag, tag, tag!!!
   6. On flickr, you should only post pictures you have taken or been given by someone you know. Do not post pictures from other websites.

6. Fun with flickr.

1. Mosaics are fun to make and fun to look at.
   1. 1. Look at these Photo Mosaics and these 3×3 Mosaics.
      2. Here are some of Amanda’s Mosaics.
      3. This guy only makes mosaics of pictures of Chinese food.
      4. Fun right?
2. Let’s make one. Go here.
3. There are other toys to use to play with flickr too. Try some.