Welcome September-December 2008 students!

Welcome, everybody!

This new trimester, we will be working with English for Work. But what is that? you may be asking yourself.

Well, let's try to explain what it is all about. To start with:

1. It is mostly about learning and practicing your English.
2. It is about learning English related to your field of expertise. So if you are an engineering student for instance. You will be reading, listening to, writing and talking about English for engineers and English for working as an engineer.
3. It is about learning English using technology. That means we will be using computers and internet to find real updated information concerning your different interests. We are going to experiment and play with new ways to learn autonomously. Learning for life. Learning to learn. Learning by doing. We will watching and listening to videos as well as making videos. We'll have the chance to use different tools to express your ideas and read about ideas.
4. It is about learning and practicing your English in groups, in community. Be ready to meet students and teachers from the university and the world. Of course, there will be tasks you must complete on your own.

That was a general description of the course. Now, how the classes take place:

• Classes are going to be held at the lab. I f you can't come to classes, you can connect at home or wherever you have access to a computer and Internet.
• You need to get a google account, since we will using different tools provided by Google. make sure to register to Gmail, Google Reader, Google Talk, and Google Doc
  
• Blogs are going to be your personal journals. There you will register everything we do in class. All your homework and tasks should be there.
• Every class will be taken as a workshop or TALLER. Try not to miss your classes and if you do, keep your blog updated.
• Homework will be assigned for each one of the units covered in class. The dateline to hand in your homework will be the day of your test. It means you will have the chance to work on your blog till the exam day.
• Corrections to writing will be done through Google documents.

Assesment
Thre are three terms:

1. First Term: written test 10 pts + on line component 10 pts 30%
2. Second Term: written test 10 pts + on line component 10 pts 30%
3. Third Term: Final project 10 pts + on line component 10 pts 40%

Things you need to do to take this class:
* Get a Gmail account and register to Google services: reader, Google talk, reader and blogger.

* Register to the EFL University Ning social network. Make sure to write name, last name and class session you belong to when registering at our social network.

* Take these surveys:

• About your English Class
  Sep- Dec08 EFL Survey
  Click Here to take survey * In case this link doesn't work Click Here
• About Integrating Technology in the English Class
  Sep-Dec08 EFL Digital Literacy
  Click Here to take survey * In case this link doesn't work Click Here

Benchmarks:

• At the end of this class. I should have:
  
  • Read my class guidelines
  • Met my new classmates
  • Worked with the introductory task
    
  • Registered at Google and have a Gmail account.
  • Registered to Google readers.
  • Downloaded Google Talk and activated my IM.
  • Registered at the EFL University Ning social network
  • Taken two surveys

Assignment for this class:

• Write your first blog entrance: Introduce yourself. Use Task 0. Get the task from the file box.
• Introduce yourself and two new friends. Click on the link and use those questions to interview your partners.
• Post the interview in your blog. Add a photo of you and your new friends.
  

Hope you learn and have a great time during the time we are going to be together. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Keep on shining!