We enjoyed our e-pals.

Submitted by cpauchnick on Sat, 2006-04-08 23:04. Public

Fa-Qiang and Nick, from Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, California, both wrote to students at the Guangxi University of Technology in Liuzhou City in Guangxi, China. I was surprised Fa-Qiang asked to write to a student in China since he is Chinese himself and this is what he shared in his final report.

Fa-Qiang: "In this epal project we get to talk to people from all over the world and I chose to talk to someone from China. Why? Because I am also Chinese but I don't really know much about it so I would like to learn more about my culture. I learned a lot of things through my epals." He actually wrote to two students, Mengtian and Guanjing. In his final report he shared how much he enjoyed learning about all the stories behind Chinese traditions and holidays. This gave him more meaning to his background. His final sentences: "I really enjoyed talking to them and getting to know the Chinese world more. They are also great people to talk with and I enjoyed this assignment very much."

Nick's final summary in his report: "In closing, I would like to say that I really enjoyed communicating with my two e-pals, Jieli and Youngiang. I learned a lot about Chinese customs and traditions from them and gained insight into how young Chinese people who are going to school think and feel about their country and the United States. We were able to exchange information and views on things. It is an experience that was positive and memorable."

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It is more than learning a foreign language--fromYaodong's class

Submitted by cpauchnick on Sun, 2006-04-09 04:56.

Ni hao to students in Yaodong's e-classes. 1. I can compose everything I want to tell my reader, whatever no matter food, music, sports, feeling, travel, anything I am pleased to share with my reader. Actually, my weblog is mirror of mine, it can tell people a lot about me…..the e-learning class extremely gave me a hand at learning English. The most important was not what the teacher taught us, was not that ICQ,E-mail, MSN, etc. What was really important is method how to learn, how to widen our horizen. The experience touching with the net told us that learning English not just from class and books….. I do love my e-learning .It is sorrow to say good bye to him. The e-class is over, but the learning never ends. I will keep e-learning myself.
2. Zhang Shaomeng: I had started my e-learning earlier than the Internet and EFL classroom I took this semester. However, the class did change some view of mine on the e-learning.I at last found out that what is more important about the e-learning class is to communicate with students all around the world, rather than learn by oneself. In other words, interaction is essential for us to learn a foreign language because that is that is what language is for----communication……I began to talk to foreign friends using tools like MSN messenger and Skype.After some random visit to BBS,I found it a helpful place to communicate too. And all these experiences are even fun. You can even talk with him/her face to face with the help of video-conference. That must be and is really an exciting experience…With this tool, I am going to make friends with even more people all around world and get to know all the interesting culture which they are bred in. This way, I shall become a real resident in the earth village.

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Wonderful comments!

Submitted by cpauchnick on Sun, 2006-04-09 23:17.

Dear Zhang Shaomeng,

I loved what you said about the value of communicating and being connected to people all over the world. I really enjoyed your term "earth village" because this seems so true. The big Earth has become a village that we can all be a part of and talk and share together. This is a time to celebrate this type of union.

Thank you for such beautiful thoughts.

Sincerely,

Candace Pauchnick

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