Reflecting on my personal learning environment...
Hi everybody!
Today I'm going to discuss a very important topic, i.e. my personal learning environment. Since we're at the end of our English course, and of our academic career in general I think it's really useful to reflect upon the ways we have to maintain our language. Unfortunately, learning a foreign language is a complex matter because it requires time and effort every day otherwise you lose and forget it. This is the reason why tracing a mind map pointing out 'informal' ways of learning is fundamental to become aware of how we can avoid forgetting our English. Thinking of my personal learning environment, I listed all the means I usually adopt to improve my English. Then I divided them into different groups according to some criteria. The result was a mind map made up of four categories of learning activities: formal education, leisure activities, information retrieving, and interactive learning. In the first group I put academic lessons and lectures, grammars, books and dictionaries – especially monolingual dictionaries – my teachers suggested to use during my university career or that I chose to use to study for my exams; in the second group I put all the ways I have to practice my English outside University and that I enjoy very much, such as listening to music, reading books for personal interest, listening to the radio, watching movies. In the group concerning the ways I use to retrieve information I put again listening to the radio and books, and added the Internet through websites and weblogs, and reading magazines and journals. Finally, by 'interactive learning' I mean all those activities where I learn and improve English by interacting and communicating with other people, be they my peers and colleagues, or my teachers. As you can see, some activities can be put in more than one groups. It depends on how I consider them. For example, listening to the radio can be considered both as a leisure activity when I listen to it without particular purposes, just to practice, and as a way to retrieve information when I listen to news or some specific programs with a particular purpose. I would like to explain why I put the Internet in the group of 'information retrieving' rather than among leisure activities. I hate using the computer and the Internet even if I know that nowadays they're very important means of communication. However, I try to use it only if necessary. What is certain is that I don't consider using the Internet a leisure activity, I prefer other ways of relaxing much more... I really hope to go on improving my English, and that this map can help me do it!
For now that's all
Michela

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To trust is good, not to trust is better... Isn't it?

Hello everybody!

Last Wednesday we discussed a very important issue, i.e. the risks of using the Internet. We listed them together, and came to the conclusion that the Internet, as just any other communication or knowledge tool, should be approached critically since it has pros and cons.

As far as I'm concerned, I don't like using technological tools in general: working on the computer, and particularly using the Internet, has always been frustrating for me. However, in modern society it's too important to use it, and if you don't use it you risk to feel alone. Particularly, the Internet is the most commonly used communication means: it allows people to exchange information and collaborate both synchronously and asynchronously.

I must admit that to protect myself I tend to use the Internet only when necessary, for example when I have to retrieve some interesting information, or for learning purposes - like in this case. I don't use Facebook or similar social network, and I avoid even writing emails because, if I have to say the whole truth, I don't know many people living distant from me, and I prefer seeing my best friends and speaking with them instead of reading their messages in front of a computer. I know, I'm a bit traditional but in so doing I have no problems with the information I put on the Internet. Obviously, I don't think that the solution to this problem is avoiding using it. As I've just said, there are too many activities in modern society that are linked to the use of this tool. I think the proper solution is to try to be responsible users, to learn how to take advantages from it instead of being damaged. We should avoid to put personal information on it because we know there's always the risk that other people use it. Finally, as concerns plagiarism I think that we should put restrictions to our work when we publish it. Our IPR should be respected, too. I'd react very negatively if I found out that someone has used my photographs or copied my original written work.

In short, the only thing we can do is to be careful, and always think twice before putting information on it. Remember that you're never really alone!

Here you can find some further information about how to use the Internet properly in order to protect yourself. Have a look at it! It's not a waste of time at all!

For today that's all!

See you next week!

Michela