Day 1

Why Blog?

This is our class blog for Intercultural Communications at the Instituto de Idiomas at la Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. This blog is a collaborative discussion space, and an extension of the classroom. You´re encouraged to reflect in more depth, in writing, on themes touched upon in class. With our class blog, you´ll write for a real audience that, apart from the teacher, will include your peers, students from other classes, and potentially anyone with access to the Internet.

Our class blog will help foster a feeling of community between the members of this class. Also, a blog is a good way to earn participation points even if you´re normally too shy to talk in class. Completing a blog assignment counts towards your homework and participation grade. This blog will be the "mother" blog for the class where all blog writing promptswill be posted for students. Each student will have his or her own unique blog where he or she will respond to the initial post made by the teacher. Your blogs will be linked to this blog and listed in a separate post.

What Should You Do in Class Today?

1. Create your blog according to the instructions on page 206.
2. Post your blog website (the url) in the comments section below, so that your instructor can collect a list of all the blogs.
3. Now that you've created your blog in class, let's practice posting by introducing yourself. Tell us your name, major, hobbies, and something about yourself that helps to define your own personal culture.
4. After you introduce yourself, make a comment on two of your classmates' blogs. The comment should be sincere and written according to academic standards. Do not just say "hi, nice blog." Instead, respond to something they wrote. Ask a question or share your opinion. 

My Sample Introduction:

My name is Emilia Cedercreutz, and I am currently teaching English at the Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Atlántico, in Colombia. While my M.A. is in TESOL, my undergraduate degree is in History and Asian Studies with a special focus on India, and I enjoyed studying Spanish and Arabic as well. Dancing is one of my favorite things to do, and it has been really interesting to learn about all the different styles of dance here in Colombia. This year I danced with a "comparsa" in the carnival, both in the Batalla de Flores and in the Gran Parada. The weeks of preparation were a lot of fun. I like the weeks before carnival maybe more than carnival itself. I spent my childhood in Finland, my adolescence in the United States, and Colombia is now the third country I have the pleasure of living in. I like writing, and recently started a blog, making myself the promise to publish approximately once per month. http://placeandwords.wordpress.com/

In 2012 before I finished my MA, I got a scholarship to study Arabic in Oman for two months. I learned so much and the country is so beautiful. Most importantly, the people are really nice and hospitable. Here are some pictures: 

 

 

 


Look! In one of the pictures they are selling "Coco Frio" on the side of the road, just like here. Can you find it?