Let´s get started with our sister classes

Some students in Argentina, Brazil, Hungary, Kuwait, Romania and San Francisco are collaborating on line and would like us to be part of their international project.

We will soon record a presentation about Venezuela to be posted in the sister classes blog. We will be probably using a tool called Voicethread (if you come up with a better idea, let´s do it). Before recording our presentation, we will have to collaboratively write a script of what we would like to say. I propose we open a page where we can all write. We can either do it in the wiki or in googledocs. I have set up a gmail account for us writingatusb@gmail.com. I´ll give you the password in class or by mail, if you decide on this last choice.

If you would like to see what other groups have done so far, here are the posts of march and april. This is the presentation I particularly would like to base ours on. Any ideas, comments?

To get you started, go to this blog post , watch the presentation from Romania and then write a comment about it in the provided area. Don´t forget to mention your name and country.

Keep me posted on what you are doing, difficulties you may have faced, etc.

What is good writing?

It seems as if good writing were the result of lots of practice and hard work, not necessarily a gift we are born with, although there will be some who have a well developed verbal ability or a sort of linguistic intelligence. But if one is willing to work and practice regularly, writing will come along naturally. As the saying goes "Practice makes perfect".

Putting words into paper or screen everyday will definitely make us better writers and as we gain confidence, our skills get sharpened and our satisfaction grows as we see much better products of our efforts, don´t you think?

So what makes a piece of writing good? Let´s see what your thoughts are on this then ...

How are you doing so far?

I wanted to check on your experience this first week.

Are you overwhelmed by the amount of activities? Have you been sitting in front of the screen for long hours? Have you had difficulties setting your Wiki page, composing your writing profile, commenting on this blog, reading assignments?

Or on the contrary ... so far, so good ... you have adapted quite well to the course activities and have figured out your way around unexpected difficulties. How did you do that?

Let us know by writing about it in the comment´s area of this post.

Welcome to ID5-128

The aim of this course is to give you the time, space and opportunities to improve your writing skills in English as a foreign language. Although the course program specifies that English for Science and Technology will be the main target, writing freely, purposely and progressively is the real objective. I would like you to improve your writing at your own pace and for your personal needs and interests.

Should you have further comments and suggestions, write them in the comments area of this post.

Let´s start, then. Best wishes and luck on this journey we are about to start !!!