This is a cool and mysterious place in Japan. If you can tell me: 1) the name of the place AND 2) what recent movie it appeared in, you'll get a small prize 

What in the world am I doing? If you know the name of this activity, send a comment here. The first correct answer will get a small prize. 

Blog Assignments: What do we have to do?

You will have a small blog assignment every week. I will usually ask you to write some comments about some topic from class. Again, this will help you to further practice the English we are using. Here is what you have to do:

1) I will give you a blog topic every Thursday or Friday (depending on your class day). You will have to post a blog entry of at least 150 words before class on the following Thursday or Friday. I will usually give you the topic, but sometimes there might be free weeks where you can write about anything you like.
2) In addition to writing your own blog, you also have to comment on at least 2 of your classmates' blogs each week. (You will comment on their topic from the previous week.) The comment doesn't have to be too long, but don't write just "cool" or "I agree."

* I will give you a blog number and title each time. Please use this number and title so I can check your blog easily.
** Please remember the deadlines. If your blog is written after the due date, you won't get credit for that week's blog.

Welcome to our class blog!

For many of you, it is the first time to make a blog. For some of you, it is the first time to hear the word blog.
What is a blog? A blog is like an online journal. What makes it better than a journal though is it is also interactive. You can use it to communicate easily with your classmates or teacher.
Why are we doing a blog for this class? Here's why:
1) Of course you need the chance to use English outside of class. This is one chance!
2) You also need to recycle new words you learn in class. This is also a chance to do that.
3) I'm sure you also want extra chances to communicate with different classmates in English. With the blog, you can do this.
4) If you are serious about English, the internet is an important tool. This is a great chance to get used to using the internet in English. I will also post links to different websites on my blog so that you can use the internet easily.
5) Do you like contests? Sometimes I will post different contests on my blog. The first student from each class to get the correct answer will get a small prize.