A Quote to share

A few days ago, one of my students sent me a quote. I like the quote, and post it here to share.
"This is the precious present, regardless of what yesterday was like, regardless of what tomorrow may bring. When your inner eyes open, you can find immense beauty hidden within the inconsequential details of daily life. When your inner ears open, you can hear the subtle, lovely music of the universe everywhere you go. When the heart of your heart opens, you can take deep pleasure in the company of the people around you--family, friends, acquaintances, or strangers--including those whose characters are less than perfect, just as your character is less than perfect. When you are open to the beauty, mystery, and grandeur of ordinary existence, you "get it" that it always has been beautiful, mysterious, and grand and always will be. This is the precious present." -----Timothy Ray Miller

Learn from the past, look forward to the future with hope, enjoy every moment of the precious present if possible.

Sites for Jokes and humors

Here are a few fine sites for jokes in Chinese.
http://joke.163.com/
http://www.51haha.net/
http://cn.jokes.yahoo.com/

It is always a good idea to share one or two jokes in classroom. Sometimes let students share their funny stories. It definitely helps teaching, and it is FUN!

Happy Chinese Valentine's Day--七夕情人节

I am watching Chinese news on TV. I just learned that today is Chinese Valentine's Day. People buy flowers. Couples enjoy the romantic moments.
This Seven Night Festival is originated from a love story. It is believed that Zhinu, or the Weaving Maid, is meeting her husband Niulang, or the Cowherd, on the Milky Way on this day after being seperated for all year long.
Wish more love on earth.

在美国电脑化中文教学的尝试

我设立了一个简单的网页, 简单地介绍了一些电脑化中文教学的尝试, 我会不断更新. 如不能看中文, 可在 "View"--"Encoding" 中选择"中文简体".
中文教学
欢迎你的评论与建言.

***********************************************************
博 克(blog)已被广泛接受. 每个人都可以成为网上作者, 在网上交流自己的作品. 中文教学中也可尝试使用博克来进行写作教学. 其优点是学生成为博克网的主人. 其他同学都可自由阅览, 并参与讨论. 学生也可自由发挥, 写作一些自己想写的题材. 以下是我的学期设想.

1. 规定写作:
按教学内容, 列出作业题目.

2. 自由写作:
题材风格不限.
规定致少三份作业, 超出不限.

3. 小组作业:
分小组, 成员之间互相评论写作, 合作完成作业.

中文的博克网可用 http://spaces.msn.com.cn 该网站有中文注册.
英文有http://www.blogware.com 此网站功能较强.
比较方便的有http://www.blogger.com, 该网站支持中文输入.

Professional Development at Info Tech

The PD at ITHS is ending today. We have teachers, coaches and school staff shown up at PD. Most of us like the new PD format proposed by Ted. People walk in the lab. As trainers, we would ask them what they want to do or learn, or what project they would like to work on. Most of them have very specific needs. With the specialties of each of our trainers, we help them out. During these several weeks of PD, we worked on Web Design with Dreamweaver, HTML coding, animation with Flash, video editing, blogging and many other topics which were not listed in the schedule. Most of the participants feel that it is quite productive, yet still with a lot of freedom. One important feature of it is that participants get much more personal attention at PD. Back to the regular classroom setting, this model can also be implemented. However I would argue that it could be quite difficult for large class setting. We just don't have that much time of attention to give to each student. Another advantage of this model is that with more personal contact, trainers/instructors can learn from trainees/students. I learned a lot from the conversations we have in the room in the unformal ways. People may have different views on this model. Some may feel uncomfortable. I would still encourage people to explore this model. I am very grateful to Noralee and Ted to arrange this PD for all of us. It is my great pleasure to work with Steve, Ken, Renee, Ted and meet so many great teachers during the training.