Why do you think learning Spanish is important? How is it relevant to the USA economy?

Watch the following videos of commercials promoting second language learning  - why learn a second language?
http://www.powtoon.com/p/cvFe89tumP2/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh5xu35bAxA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS8hUCXnsv4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0Bxz5gcmyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgbgqDo2hK8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-te-toPHWVQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZQhUFgqlhw&list=PL0E112DF7AC6D54E3&index=12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzzGWrYHTkw&list=PL0E112DF7AC6D54E3&index=13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8jYJomGTRQ&list=PL43505C65D55AAEED&index=3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFhdYvkn7Ns&list=PL43505C65D55AAEED

welcome!

Hola estudiantes, bienvenidos!

This is an exciting semester for you all! You are embarking in learning a second language or improving upon your knowledge of this language.
This blog is devoted to have meaningful discussions about the Hispanic culture, music, and grammar. This blog will allow you to learn about the values and perceptions of the Hispanic culture and make comparisons to American views.
You are expected to post once each week to each "question", or give an opinion based on a resource posted here. Then you are to reply to one other partner in the same week.
The posts from each week will be graded, so make sure that you are posting responses that are respectful and that have good quality

Enjoy the journey!

Sra. Araque

Online etiquette- from Kent State University

Online Etiquette

Distance & Online Learning > Technology > Online Etiquette

Taking an online course and corresponding via the World Wide Web presents communicators with the task of overcoming the lack of nonverbals in communication.  When taking a course online, it is important to remember several points of etiquette that will smooth communication between the students and their instructors. 

1. Avoid language that may come across as strong or offensive. Language can be easily misinterpreted in written communication. If a point must be stressed, review the statement to make sure that an outsider reading it would not be offended, then post the statement. Humor and sarcasm may easily be misinterpreted as well, so try to be as matter-of-fact and professional as possible.

2. Keep writing to a point and stay on topic.  When writing, keep sentences poignant and brief so that readers do not get lost in wordy paragraphs and miss the point of the statement. Also, do not introduce new topics; it may just confuse the readers.

3. Read first, write later. It is important to read all posts or comments of students and instructors within the course discussion before personally commenting to prevent repeating commentary or asking questions that have already been answered.

4. Review, review, then send. There’s no taking back a comment that has already been sent, so it is important to double-check all writing to make sure that it clearly conveys the exact intended message.

5. An online classroom is still a classroom. Though the courses may be online, appropriate classroom behavior is still mandatory. Respect for fellow classmates and the instructors is as important as ever.

6. The language of the Internet. Though still a fairly young type of communication, certain aspects of this form of communication are becoming conventional. For example, do not write using all capital letters, because it will appear as shouting. Also, the use of emoticons can be helpful when used to convey nonverbal feelings (example: :-) or :-( ), but avoid overusing them.

7. Consider the privacy of others'. Ask permission prior to giving out a classmate's email address or other information.

8. If possible, keep attachments small. If it is necessary to send pictures, change the size to an acceptable 100k.

9. No inappropriate material. Do not post virus warnings, chain letters, jokes, etc. to classmates or instructors.