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=ようこそ！Welcome to the ja12 wikispace!=

Here you can view some of my pages, add your own page, and add to the discussion forum.
Remember to bookmark this site on your home computer at: http://ja12.wikispaces.com/ Check the **Useful Links page** for help with creating a page, uploading files, good search engine sites for images, powerpoint presentations, etc.

Your **first task** is to join the wikispace. You will need to know your abbynet e-mail address and password to become a member.

Your **second task** is to go to the Useful LInks page and take the technology survey.

Your **third task** is to create your own page on our wikispace. This is where you will upload your assignments. You can add your profile, a few photos and some text telling a little about yourself and your interest in Japanese. This page should have a mix of Japanese and English text. Make it interesting!
 * value: 5 marks**

Your **first assignment** to upload is a **short photo essay** on some place/theme you find interesting related to Japan. It could be an entire city, or part of a city, a famous landmark, etc. Provide details (name, location, interesting tidbits, etc.) in both Japanese and English. Be careful to provide //furigana// for difficult //kanji.// Keep photos small or medium size only when uploading. I prefer medium. No copyright infringement! Check Creative Commons, Flickr, etc. You may use any photo program. PhotoStory3, iPhoto, WMM, etc. (see me if you need extra help)
 * value: 10 marks (5 for images, 5 for Japanese text)** equivalent to one workbook unit! **due: March 6**

Your **second assignment** is to add **5**, or more, discussion topic(s) about Japanese language, culture, technology, etc. that you feel would be interesting for the students in our class. Check out a few of the topics I have posted to get the discussion going. Each student should respond to at least 5 topics.  You can add links, images, video files (you-tube, etc.) along with your topic.
 * value: 10 marks** **due: April 9**

Your **third assignment** is to create a **powerpoint presentation** that teaches/re-teaches the students some topic about the language. It could be from a previous unit, or an upcoming unit. You should have __at least 5 slides__ (not too many) that present the information clearly. Check the __Powerpoint suggestions page__ for some extra help on making good presentations. Here are just a few topic suggestions: い　vs. な adjs.; こ・そ・あ・ど; verb endings; particles; joining words; family kanji; big #s; direction vocab.; Time refs. kanji; te-forms/functions; counters; verb/adj. kanji from Min. of Ed.; town vocab.; formal/informal. There are 14 good topics already for you to choose from. There are lots more... Use both Japanese and English in slides.
 * value: 10 marks** **due: April 17**

Your **fourth and final assignment** is to get a partner and write out a skit about some real-life situation in Japanese. You must upload your peer-edited script to your page, and then have a third student video tape your skit. Try to use some simple props. You and your partner will edit the video using WMM, iMovie, etc. and upload it to your page as well. See me or one of your classmates if you need help editing. Topics could be such as: shopping, directions, restaurant, job interview, a day at school, future plans, variety of conversations, trips, seasons/activities, homes/families, and so on... Remember the K.I.S.S. method in all assignments. But don't be too simple. Remember, this is Japanese 12!
 * value: 20 marks (10 for video, 10 for skit)** equivalent to 2 workbook units!!　 **due: April 24**

And just think of all the trees we've spared, with almost no carbon footprint. Even new computers are going みどり！
 * がんばって！**I hope you enjoy this approach to learning much more about Japan than we could ever do in the regular classroom time.

Seek advice from your partner, classmates, Mr. Nielson, Mr. Faulkner, Mr. Kask, Mr. Werner ... friends, family members, etc. There are a lot of people around you that can offer helpful suggestions. This will help you **save time**, and make **better presentations!**