Teacher Guide

Create Effective Language Courses on Asakiri

Welcome, Language Teachers!

This guide will walk you through the process of creating effective language courses on Asakiri. Our platform enables you to build structured courses with grammar lessons, vocabulary practice, and reading exercises to help learners master a new language.

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Course Creation Process

1

Design Your Course

Plan your course structure, learning objectives, and target audience

2

Create Units

Organize your content into logical units with progressive difficulty

3

Add Content Sections

Develop grammar, vocabulary, and reading sections for each unit

4

Publish & Share

Review your course, publish it, and share with the community

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Setting Up Your Course

Create a New Course

  1. Navigate to /course/create or click "Create New Course" in the teacher dashboard
  2. Enter a descriptive course title (e.g., "Beginner Japanese for English Speakers")
  3. Click "Create Course" to proceed to the course editor
Pro Tip

Choose a clear, specific title that includes the language, level, and target audience when possible.

Configure Course Details

  1. Add a detailed course description explaining what learners will achieve
  2. Select the language being taught and the instruction language
  3. Upload a course thumbnail image (recommended dimensions: 800×450px)
  4. Add a concise short description (max 150 characters) for course listings
Course details configuration screen

Course details configuration screen

2. Creating Course Units

Add a New Unit

  1. From the course editor, click "Add Unit"
  2. Enter a unit title (e.g., "Unit 1: Basic Greetings")
  3. Add a unit description detailing the learning objectives
  4. Save the unit to proceed to the unit editor
Unit Structure Best Practices

Structure units to build upon each other with a clear progression in difficulty. Aim for 3-7 units per course, each covering a coherent set of related concepts.

Organizing Multiple Units

  1. Units are displayed in sequential order based on their numbering
  2. You can reorder units by dragging and dropping them in the course editor
  3. Consider including a summary or review unit at the end of your course

3. Creating Grammar Sections

Add a Grammar Section

  1. From the unit editor, click "Create Section" and select "Grammar"
  2. Enter a title for your grammar section
  3. Use the rich text editor to create your grammar explanation
  4. Include examples and practice exercises
Effective Grammar Explanations

Keep explanations clear and concise. Use tables for conjugations or patterns, and always include multiple examples showing the grammar in context.

Example Grammar Section Structure
  • Main Explanation: Describe the grammar rule and its use
  • Pattern/Formula: Show the structure clearly (e.g., Subject + は + Object + が + Adjective)
  • Examples: 3-5 examples with translations
  • Exceptions: Note any exceptions to the rule
  • Practice Exercises: Simple exercises to apply the grammar

4. Creating Vocabulary Sections

Add a Vocabulary Section

  1. From the unit editor, click "Create Section" and select "Vocabulary"
  2. Enter a title for your vocabulary section
  3. Add vocabulary items one by one, including:
    • Term in the target language
    • Definition in the instruction language
    • Example sentence (recommended)
    • Pronunciation guide (if applicable)
  4. Set difficulty levels for each vocabulary item to help with spaced repetition
Vocabulary Best Practices

Group vocabulary by theme (e.g., "Food," "Travel"). Aim for 10-15 words per section for optimal retention. Include natural example sentences.

Creating Effective Flashcards

  1. Each vocabulary item automatically creates a flashcard for learners
  2. Provide clear, concise definitions
  3. Use high-quality example sentences that demonstrate context
  4. Add pronunciation guides using standardized systems when possible
Example Vocabulary Item
  • Term: 食べる (taberu)
  • Definition: to eat
  • Example: 私は寿司を食べます。(Watashi wa sushi o tabemasu.)
  • Translation: I eat sushi.
  • Difficulty: 2 (Beginner)

5. Creating Reading Sections

Add a Reading Section

  1. From the unit editor, click "Create Section" and select "Reading"
  2. Enter a title for your reading section
  3. Add your reading text in the target language
  4. Provide a translation of the text
  5. Add comprehension questions to test understanding
Effective Reading Sections

Start with short, simple texts for beginners. Gradually increase length and complexity. Ensure that readings reinforce vocabulary and grammar from previous sections.

Adding Comprehension Questions

  1. Create questions that test understanding of the text
  2. Include a mix of question types:
    • Multiple choice questions
    • True/false statements
    • Open-ended questions
  3. Ensure questions progress from basic comprehension to deeper understanding
Example Reading Structure
  1. Introduction: Brief context for the reading
  2. Text: The reading passage in the target language
  3. Translation: Translation in the instruction language
  4. Vocabulary Notes: Explanations of difficult words
  5. Comprehension Questions: 3-5 questions to check understanding

6. Reviewing and Publishing

Review Your Course

  1. Check each unit and section for completeness
  2. Ensure logical progression of difficulty
  3. Preview the course from a learner's perspective
  4. Fix any errors or inconsistencies

Publish Your Course

  1. From the course editor, click the "Publish" button
  2. Choose visibility settings:
    • Published: Available to all learners
    • Federation: Enable to share with federated instances
  3. Confirm publication when ready
Note on Federation

Enabling federation allows your course to be discovered by users on other Asakiri instances. This increases your course's reach while maintaining your control over the content.

Best Practices for Course Creators

Clear Learning Objectives

Define specific, measurable learning objectives for each unit and the overall course. Tell learners exactly what they'll be able to do upon completion.

Scaffolded Learning

Build complexity gradually by introducing new concepts that build on previously learned material. Reinforce vocabulary and grammar across different sections.

Cultural Context

Include cultural notes and authentic contexts to help learners understand how the language is used in real-world situations. This deepens understanding and engagement.

Regular Review

Incorporate review sections or exercises that revisit earlier material. Spaced repetition is key to long term retention of language skills.

Clear Instructions

Provide explicit, concise instructions for all exercises and activities. Learners should always understand what they're expected to do.

Diverse Content

Include a variety of content types and themes to keep learners engaged. Connect language learning to topics that are relevant and interesting.

Tools & Resources

Rich Text Editor

Asakiri's built in editor supports formatting, tables, images and embedded audio to help you create engaging content. Use it to create clear, structured lessons.

Editor Guide

Teacher Discord Community

Connect with other language teachers, share best practices and collaborate on course development through our teacher channel on discord.

Join Community

Ready to Create Your Course?

Start building your language course today and share your expertise with learners worldwide. Remember, human-created courses with authentic examples and cultural context create the most effective learning experiences.

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