What Can You Use the Forums for?
To send in your questions: It's better for your teacher you send them to the forum, so that when she answers more people can profit from that work. Also, other people can answer too, or make comments.
To practice writing
To read stuff in English and learn about the topics discussed
To learn vocabulary, grammar, things about different cultures - if somebody asks a question, feel free to answer (I won't unless NOBODY tries to answer! - boo!).
To learn how to use ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) and their jargon.
To learn about people and the world
To send in your feedback, comments and suggestions
To share your knowledge
To have fun communicating with other people
How to Register
Go to the TP Forums (left-side navigation bar)
Look at the top right corner. Click on "Register". You need: a nick (the name you wish to use on the forum), your email, a password (you are the only person who will know this password).
Now you're in. You have signed in/on or logged in. You can send posts, including polls. (If you don't register you can only read the posts). When you leave the forum, sign out. When you come back, sign in. Each time you sign in, you'll be asked to type in your nick and password. You may also tell your computer to remember your name and password, so that you don't have to type them in every time you drop by!
Using the Spell Checker
These amazing forums have some interesting tools. One of them (which you can actually see when you're writing a message, if you look below the message you're writing) is the SpellChecker or SpellingChecker. PLEASE, DON'T USE THE SPELLCHECK BEFORE PROOFREADING YOUR POST YOURSELF!!! The SpellCheck should be used only after having practiced independent proofreading!!! More info here 
Choosing your Avatar
An avatar is a little graphic which helps forum user to identify you graphically! As you can see on this thread , the admin has an avatar of two little bears or bear cubs! And doodah has the avatar of a pair of boots. How can you choose your own? The forum offers a variety of avatars. Follow these instructions:
Login
Just above the forums, you'll find a rectangle called "Your Personal Features". If you click on the first, "Control Panel/Options", you'll get to your personal information. Have a look. Do you see that one of the sections is "Avatars"? There are four folders, but the first, CVS, doesn't work. Check out the ones called A, B and C. Select your favorite and that's it.
If you have your own avatar, you can send it to your teacher, so she can upload it and you can select it on the forum! Another possibility is that you write the URL of your avatar in "Edit Profile". If you don't know how to, ask on the forum.
If you have any problems/questions, tell me. If you send me an email, make sure you've read first the section here called email ReadMe! (on your left). I get tons of spam and you probably want to make sure I'll get your message.
