Inspired by Doug Belshaw's work, http://neverendingthesis.com/ , a dissertation shared publicly since its beginning as a wiki, I share the beginning of my own journey as I study about Social Presence and how it  influences learning in virtual environments.As I'm doing my M.A.  in Brazil, I write in Portuguese. The thesis will be written as a blog where people can comment and suggest right from the start.  http://ufuanamariamenezes.blogspot.com.br/

TECH ON THE GO - Episode 2Technology on the go is back. A podcast created by teachers, for teachers.Each month, Camila Sousa (in Chicago) and I (in Brazil) interview different teachers around the globe about how they have been integrating technology to their classes.This month, I am the guest speaker. I talk to Camila Sousa about the project I've been developing with my own students this semester. The main tool chosen was VOKI.http://technologyonthego.podomatic.com/entry/2012-09-29T11_38_11-07_00For more information about the project, you can read my previous blog posthttp://lifefeast.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/voki-project.htmlor send me an e-mail to anamariacult@yahoo.com.brTo follow TECHNOLOGY ON THE GO, visit our podcast pagehttp://technologyonthego.podomatic.comSome months ago, VOKI sent me an interview about how I had been using the site in my classes.These are the answers I shared with them.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C241RXxrCs

Next week, we celebrate teacher's day in Brazil, so as a gift to fellow teachers, I've decided to share for free the online version of the e-book I wrote in 2011.As an EFL teacher, I've always explored Webtools with an eye to the possible activities the tools afford."Developing the 4 Skills with Webtools"  brings a selection of 45 webtools which can be used to practise the 4 skills. Of course, many of the tools allow students to develop language as a whole, however, by bringing the tools in categories ( reading, writing, listening and speaking) , my intention is to help teachers select a tool based on what they would like their students to do.Open publication - Free publishing - More eflThe paperback version can still be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/developing-the-4-skills-with-webtools/15742649

You might already use this app or not. I only got invited to use it this week, thanks to Andressa Cardoso for that.Now, if you can call someone and send text messages, why would you need a walkie-talkie application?Well, sometimes you don't want to call someone and have a lengthy conversation, all you want is to do is send a message such as "Meet me in front of the cinema." If that is your purpose, I believe it could come really handy as recording yourself speaking is much faster than typing it.Reading a review from PCMag.com  I discovered other interesting features such as sharing images and your location. You can even send a voice message to a group of people.http://voxer.com/I love the fact that it's FREE and available for iphones and androids alike.How can we use the tool with students?  http://voxer.com/send a voice message to a group of students asking a question and they have to answer back.have students send voice messages to each other in English.using the teacher's VOXER in class, students can interview a teacher from another country by sending voice messages.Any other ideas? I'd love to hear from you.

"You’ve just been awarded a scholarship for IATEFL 2013." I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the email saying I would have the chance to attend the IATEFL conference in Liverpool for the first time. As a Braztesol member, I’ve always tried to attend the national conventions in Brazil thinking of my professional development. However, going to an international conference such as IATEFL, had always been a far-fetched dream. While talking to dear friend Shelly Terrell about my dream of attending IATEFLand how hard it is for us Brazilian teachers to afford such a trip, she advised me to apply for one of the scholarships. There were different possible scholarships but one in special caught my eyes, the "Onestopenglish Creativity in the classroom" scholarship.What I look forward to in Liverpool? Visit the city for the first time, meet several of my PLN friends , LEARN A LOT so that I can come back home full of ideas to share with other Brazilian teachers and of course, sing all the Beatles songs I love. 

Well, in case any Life Feast reader is wondering, I haven't disappeared from cyberspace. kkkkkkThe year 2012 was certainly a challenge and I had to try to use my time VERY WISELY. I started an M. A. program in Linguistic Studies and apart from attending my classes at university and starting to write my paper, I teach EFL to teenagers (love them), am the head of the Edtech department of technology at the language institute I work at and to top it all, I also facilitate an online course. So, what have I been doing? Well, since 2006 my online life has changed a bit. I don't feel the need to read EVERYTHING EVERYONE SHARES anymore, I try to select very carefully what I read (my priorities) and try to be with my family as much as I can.I believe the year 2013 will be as busy.I've started writing my dissertation online (in Portuguese) at http://ufuanamariamenezes.blogspot.com.br/ but it's still at its initial stage.At the beginning of 2013, I'll be offering a free online course for Brazilian EFL educators from public schools during which I intend to observe how participants experience "social presence" in an online environment. This is the poster I'm still working on to advertise the course.Whenever I feel like unwinding and surfing a bit, I normally check my FACEBOOK notifications, interact a bit and share stuff I like over there as well. The space I've been enjoying the most nowadays is PINTEREST where I've been collecting interesting sites in boards.  Have a look : http://pinterest.com/anamariacult/ This is a selection of  10 FAVORITE SITES I've chosen from my pinterest boards. TYPOGRAFFIT - turn your words into a graffiti http://typograffit.com/SHUTTERCAL - a space where you can post a photo a day and add a text to it in a calendar and then share with others. I guess it would be perfect for project work. http://shuttercal.com/MAGISTO - video editing with your cell phone. http://www.magisto.com/ POPPLET - create cool collaborative mindmaps (IPAD or iphone app) http://popplet.com/MUZY - a new way to blog with pictures. http://muzy.com/app/photoboxSMORE - create cool virtual posters which can be printed or embedded. http://www.smore.com/appVINTAGIO - turn your videos into silent films. (U$0.99)https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/silent-film-director/id335148458?mt=8 TIKI-TOKI - beautiful web-based time lines. http://www.tiki-toki.com/OUIWRITE - makes academic writing easier by helping you with formats and sources. http://www.ouibox.com/ouiwrite.phpPOWTOON - create animated presentations. http://www.powtoon.com/

The first post of 2013 will be devoted to one of my passions: Music.These are some websites which I use for pleasure or in the classroom.1. EVERYONE'S MIXTAPE- This one I discovered yesterday and absolutely loved it. It allows you to create a playlist from youtube videos and share it with others. The playlists are organized on cassette cases like in the old days and as the music plays you can see the reel rolling. Certainly a flashback moment. This was my first mixtape. http://everyonesmixtape.com/#/mix/DqI63PCJrmF/12. STEREO MOOD - choose a mood and see what songs the site suggests. I like using this one while getting the room ready before my students arrive.http://www.stereomood.com/ 3. YOUTUBE ALARM - choose a song from youtube, set the alarm time and you can wake up to the sound of your favorite song. I use this website very often in class to time activities, or to remind me of something important we need to do that day.  I also use it while surfing the web to keep me focussed and keep track of time.http://www.youtubealarm.com/4. LYRICS TRAINING - I couldn't leave this one out. It's a fantastic site anyone can use to have fun or for learning purposes. You listen to a song and have the chance to complete gaps with the missing words. Wonderful listening practice! If you have an IWB, try dividing your students into 2 groups and have a competition for completing a song. It's great fun!http://www.lyricstraining.com/5. MOOD STREAM - I have already posted about Mood Stream  here. What I like about it? Well, you select your mood and then apart from listening to snippets of songs you can see beautiful photos from Gettyimages in the background. I've already used it in class for picture description. An idea for classroom activity can be found here.http://moodstream.gettyimages.com/

This is a collection of FREE APPS which can bring music to your life.1. RELAX MELODIES HD - a great FREE app to help you relax and maybe go to sleep. You can customize your own relaxing music by selecting what sounds you want to include: rainy day, birds, piano, flute, ocean, river, thunder and so on. I've never used it in class but I guess it's possible to use it to set moods for writing for example. (iphones and androids)https://itunes.apple.com/br/app/relax-melodies-hd-white-noise/id367506176?mt=82. SONGIFY - another FREE app for iphone or androids. Record yourself saying something and the app turns it into music. I've already used it in class to record my students reading sentences they had created themselves using a target structure and then played all recordings as a dictation. (iphones and androids)Similar apps- AUTORAP- TALKAPELLAhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smule.songify3. BAND OF THE DAY - free app which offers you songs from a new band every day. Great way of discovering new bands.https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/band-of-the-day/id459664402?mt=84. MOODAGENT - choose your mood and the app selects a playlist for you. For iphones and androids.http://www.moodagent.com/5. MUSIXMATCH - I've always thought reading lyrics while singing is a great way to practice pronunciation. Well, this is a FREE app which can let you  follow the lyrics. Just love it! (iphone or android)http://musixmatch.com/TWO KARAOKE APPS6. SING SING TOGETHER (FREE) -This a Karaoke for kids. Perfect for kids to sing in English in EFL classes.http://www.famigo.com/app/sing-sing-together/7. ANDROID KARAOKE SING ALONG - more than 1,000 most popular karaoke videos.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sadiTOOLS TO IDENTIFY TUNES THAT HAVE STUCK TO YOUR MIND8. SHAZAM - If you're listening to a song but want to know what it's called or who the singer is, just turn on the app and shazam the app gives you the answer. (Iphones and androids)http://www.shazam.com/9. MIDOMI - Many times you don't have the real song playing to identify it but only the tune that stuck to your head. The app allows you to sing or even only hum the tune and it identifies the song for you. Mashable says humming works better than singing. For iphones and androids.http://www.midomi.com/Similar app: SOUNDHOUNDAND YOU? Do you have music apps you enjoy using? Please, leave your contributions in the comment area, I'd love to learn about other apps.

http://www.cartoonaticapp.com/Remember that A-ha video clip where the band turns into cartoon characters singing their song "Take on me"?Well, if you're not as old as I am, here is the video which had us dancing in the late 80's. I never imagined I could use that kind of effect so easily in videos I record with an iphone or an ipad. All you have to do is download the FREE APP Cartoonatic, choose a video from your device OR use the app to record a video . There are various effects you can choose ( the video below was done using "Pencil Jetty").  After recording the video, it says you can share it via facebook, twitter, e-mail or send it to YOUTUBE. However, I tried exporting from within the app but it didn't work. So, I saved it to my ipad gallery and from there uploaded it to my youtube account.How can we use this app with students?- You can record your students roleplaying dialogues they have created and then play the cartoonized version for the whole class in youtube later on.- You can record students miming actions and then play the video for the class to guess what they were miming.- You can have students record themselves interviewing each other.- Students can create a story and roleplay it in front of the camera.- Students can create a parody of "Take on Me"and record themselves singing it.- Students can dub the original song "Take on Me" and act just like the video clip.Any other ideas? 

If you are an English teacher in Uberlândia, Brazil, this is a great opportunity to reflect about technology integration in the classroom.The online course will last for 8 weeks, starting February 14th, during which participants will have the opportunity to read articles, watch videos, participate in discussions and try out different webtools in a learning community.The course is FREE and is part of the Master's thesis I'm writing.http://ufuanamariamenezes.blogspot.com.br/