もくようび - Thursday
Submit L7 Speaking Assignment
Check out the video below today's announcement for a tour of Boutin Sensei's house.
Lesson 7 Speaking Assignment Due Today
This week's assignments requires you to give a tour of your home (real or imaginary using photos from the internet) where you show us several rooms of your home and what is inside them.
Last week many students who submitted powerpoint presentations that did not have the audio properly embedded in them and lost points for this.
If you choose to use powerpoint I strongly recommend using vocaroo.com to record the audio in one single file and submit the audio as a separate file. This saves you time as you will not have to upload several small audio files. You can use powerpoint to submit your images and use the vocaroo file as your audio. This is the safest way to guarantee I will be able to hear your audio on your speaking assignment.
You can also use a free service like www.screencast-o-matic.com to create a screencast of your speaking assignment.
Review the Grading Rubric for the assignment and make sure you include all of the criteria listed in the assignment.
Remember that you must respond to 2 classmates' recordings for full credit. I hate deducting points for this. :(
For some help with the speaking assignment, you may want to give another listen to the video featuring Sakura and Daichi. Listen very carefully to how they pronounce this week's vocabulary words. This is how you will want to pronounce them.
Mid Term Exam Information
You will need to be at a computer set up to read and write in Japanese when taking the exam.
Part 1 consists of reading all the hiragana characters, including combination sounds, sound shifts like Ga, Za, etc. and using the small tsu.
Part 2 is the written part of the exam. You will download the worksheet and print it out, and then fill in the hiragana. Please use a pencil for this part of the exam in case you make a mistake and need to erase it. You will scan and upload the worksheet, or take a photo of it. Be sure your scan or photo is clear and easy to read.
Part 3 focuses on vocabulary and grammar from lessons 1 - 7. All answers must be typed in Japanese. Any answer in romaji will not be accepted and will be graded as a 0.
You get 1 attempt at each part of the exam.
Culture Cafe!
Culture Cafe is a great way to learn more about other cultures and earn extra credit if they're from the Japanese department. We hope to see you at an upcoming culture cafe!
Onsen and Tattoos
Thomas W. IMed me yesterday asking about tattoos and onsen. Tattoos are somewhat taboo in Japanese society because of crime affiliations. Members of older generations especially may find even small/artistic tattoos offensive and people with tattoos have been asked to leave onsen and public bathhouses.
Many travel sites recommend that tourists cover up small tattoos with bandages if visiting an onsen or using a public bathouse. Some onsen offer private spots where you can soak in the water by yourself so no one will see you or your tattoos while you relax. You can also look for onsen that do not have signs posted advising that tattoos are not permitted. Some onsen are more laid back about tattoos, but out of respect for others it is best to try and keep them covered up with a towel or robe when not in the water.
Tomorrow is Lesson 7 Quiz Day! Make sure you're ready!
Contact Boutin Sensei
I can also be reached by these contacts outside of office hours
Email: sarah.boutin@ncpublicschools.gov
Website: sarahboutin.tumblr.com
Location: BBIM - Sarah Boutin
Phone: 919-964-5227
Facebook: facebook.com/boutinsensei
Twitter: @boutinsensei