How to Search the Web

Internet is widely used to search information about all kinds of topics from Linguistics to music. If you have the address for a specific page you can simply type the address on the space provided on the top of the page when you are connected to Internet. It is labeled Address and a write space bar is provieded. Most addresses begin with the three letters "www" which stand for "World Wide Web", a system to access various resources on the Internet. After that you just click the Enter key and wait for the information to be displayed.

Search Engines

Many times you many not have the address, in this case you need a Search Engine. This is a page where you can find lists of web pages related to a given aspect. When you access one of these pages you will find lots of information, but there will always be a space where you can type clue words or a question regarding the topic you want to know about. After writing this information you must click using your mouse a Search button. In a few seconds a list of web pages that might help you will be shown. Then you simply click on one of these addresses and you will be taken to that specific page. If the information is not what you where looking for you can always hit the return button on the top of your screen and you can choose a different address. Many times several pages containing the topic you are searhcing can be found, in this case you must click on the phrase 'next page' that usually appears at the end of the information. Sometimes, numbers representing the quatity of pages found is displayed. You can go to the next page by clicking on the next page number you want to view. A new page with new addresses will soon come up. Here is a window from Yahoo. Try it!

Discussion Lists

You already know how to send and receive information by e-mail. The Internet, however, offers a another choice that can be valuable for teachers and students of English. When using a discussion list you are able to receive hundreds of answers to a given question in a few seconds; you can also discuss issues related to languages, state your point of view and connect with groups of people with similar interests. To participate in a list first you must subscribe to it. One of the most popular lists is TESL-L. To bocome part of this list and its branches send an e-mail to this address: lystserv@cunyvm.cuny.edu Your message must read: sub TESL-L your first name and your last name. You don't need to write any further explanations, not even the subject. You will be automatically registered. Once you register you will receive a welcome message explaining how to send, read and reply to TESL-L messages. Save this message for further reference. This list has many branches according to the special interests of its members. The welcome will also tell you how to join these branches. Some of the branches you can join are:


Using
E-mail		 E-pals
Contact List		 Reading
Techniques 		Writing
Techniques		 Activities Using the Web Grammar: Verb Tenses Interesting
Links		 Chat
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