English As A Second Language

  Table of Contents

 Back to Top  

 Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent) 

Description of Content

This review is based on a full version, single-user licensed copy of the software.  It came with a CD-ROM, an audio CD and the manual, which included current copies of the INS documentation and information for naturalization application. 

Navigation and Structure

After a very simple install of a few files, the program needs the CD-ROM to run.  The shortcut is found in Start\Programs\Educational Activities 2010\Citizenship.  The program window runs on a full screen with a centered area window of approximately 7x5 inches.  After the startup screen, the main menu allows navigation to the different lessons (14 totals).  The instructors can change the program options from doing written quizzes to recording the answers and saving the files to the hard drive.  It seemed very simple to use and follow.  Good knowledge of the English language is required.

Instructional Applications

The software along with the audio CD can be an excellent tool in helping applicants prepare for the citizenship exam.  An instructor can monitor and evaluate students’ progress through audio files or printed reports.  The CD can run on any player so the student can practice away from the classroom.

Additional Information

This program runs well on Windows 2000.

Back to Top

 Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent) 

Description of Content

The EASY, English Academic Success for You, ESL series meets the needs of the beginner ESL student in Middle and High School, Adult Education, Distance Learning and Family Literacy.  The 6 VHS videotape, or 6 interactive CD-ROM, Series has detailed lesson plans and many reproducible worksheets, tests, homework, quizzes and tests.  Also the videos incorporate a How to Use video in nine different languages:  Spanish, Korean, Cambodian, Hmong, Russian, Farsi, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and English.  The CD’s have audio prompts in the above (and other) languages.  The activities have been developed based on the California State ELD Standards.  Each lesson provides the following three things:  standards, proposed objectives, and necessary materials.

The VHS video series is recommended for “in-class, teacher-led instruction and for check-out for students to take home for family literacy.”  The CD-ROM version is recommended for “supplemental practice for students in self-paced mode in a classroom or computer lab.”  An important feature of the CD is the interactive speak-listen-compare practice.

Navigation and Structure

The EASY program consists of six units:  The Basics, Interactions, Feelings, At School, At Home, and The Time.  Each unit reinforces the grammar and other instructional objectives in previous units.  Instruction ranges from basic phonics to conjugating present tense verbs.  (See www.easyeld.com for a more comprehensive scope and sequence chart.)  The lesson plan scripts are divided into three segments:  instruction, story, and practice.

Instructional Applications

In many classrooms today in rural states, ESL students are unable to attend class at a specified time because they have to work.  Trying to teach beginning ESL students as they are integrated into ABE classes can be frustrating for an instructor.  Therefore, the EASY CD’s will provide an excellent opportunity for these students to participate in valuable learning.  The videos are also great tools for students to check out for reinforcement practice.  Of course, if there is an opportunity for active teaching, the videos are a great source.  Students will make much faster progress in this manner.  Overall, teachers will find the EASY system to be very valuable because they can teach both individually and in small groups.

Back to Top  

Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content

This website has materials for teaching and learning the English language.  The materials are aimed at ESL teachers and students and it appears to provide adequate information for all levels, although the site is geared towards higher-level ESOL students the Adult Basic Education serve.

Navigation and Structure

It is easy to navigate.  

Instructional Applications

This site is a good resource for instructors who are new to teaching English grammar to ESL students.  It could also be used for low-level ABE students who are unfamiliar with the conventions of the English language.  

Back to Top  

Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent) 

 Description of Content

The site provides an objective for each lesson, spoken vocabulary with tests and answer key available, streaming video with text available and questions and answers about the video, language activities, and life skill applications followed by a final assessment.  There are five stories with four episodes for each – a total of 20 categories supplemented by several activities.  Written directions may be read in Spanish.  Stories cover the areas of employment, family, taxes, parenting, and accessing learning opportunities.

Navigation and Structure

Access is very easy.  A teacher just completes a registration process and then shows the student how to access the site – log in and log out!

Instructional Applications

This is a terrific site for ESL students to practice their listening skills in a real world experience.  Students will be thrilled with the opportunity to listen to vocabulary and text while at the same time reading it.  This reviewer highly recommends this site not only for all types of ESL programs but also for low-level readers.  

Back to Top  

Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content

This website is designed to assist college level students and staff in understanding grammar and the principles of composition.  It provides detailed explanations and examples of the complexities of the English language.  In addition, in provides PowerPoint presentations of the general conventions of the English language, as well as interactive self-grading quizzes.

Navigation and Structure

It is exceptionally easy to navigate and users can exit at any point.  There is on-screen help as well as links to additional instructional materials in each of the subject areas

Instructional Applications

This site is an excellent resource and tool for any ABE or ESL instructor teaching principles of composition or grammar.  It is simple and straightforward and provides excellent explanations, materials, and tools that instructors can use.

Back to Top

 Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent) 

Description of Content

The program is composed of 10 sections.  Each section deals with a slightly different type of situation in which creating and using structured sentences correctly is necessary for efficient communication:

• Directions

• Fast Food

• Learning to Drive

• Meet me in New York

• Renting an Apartment

• That Phone System

• The Bank

• The Dinner Guest

• The Job Interview

• The Library

The manual that accompanies the software contains vocabulary and worksheets for instructors to use.  Some of the storage needed for the lessons is for voice recordings of each student.

Navigation and Structure

Personalized files created are saved to the hard drive for each student.  They include the voice recordings to be used for the lessons.  Each lesson is independent of the others.  

Instructional Applications

Adult literacy, pre-GED instruction or ESL class curriculum.

Back to Top  

Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent)

Description of Content

The site provides students with a variety of “hundreds of listening activities ranging from the following:

New listener

·         Short, usually less than two and a half minutes

·         Slow, usually slow speed, or at most normal speed

·         Simple in content, with easy grammar and easy vocabulary

Regular listener

·         Longer, usually up to about four minutes (but may be longer if they are slow)

·         Faster, any speed is possible

·         More complex content, with more difficult grammar and vocabulary

Advanced listener

·         Some are much longer, up to eight and even ten minutes

·         Some are just very fast

·         They usually have challenging content, often on more serious topics.  The ideas, grammar, and vocabulary may be complex

Once a student listens to the activity, they can answer questions and see both the answers and test of the activity.

Navigation and Structure

Access is very easy and user friendly.  As a guest, a student only needs to select which level of listening activity s/he wants to try.  As a member, then all s/he will have to do is select Member at the top of the screen.

Instructional Applications

This is a great tool for ESL students who have the money to spend for individual access.  However, the cost might be prohibitive for a large program.  Students can access the guest site and enjoy 30 listening activities.  Students are exposed to a variety of English domains ranging from everyday English to Academic English.

Back to Top  

 Evaluation Scale (scale 0 = not applicable, 1= not recommended, 2 = fair, 3 = good and 4 = excellent) 

Description of Content

The Writer has been developed for those programs that may have limited computer lab space or for those who want to provide a take-home device on which students may practice their keyboarding.  The basic philosophy of this company is that keyboarding is a 21^st century literacy skill, one according to studies that should be mastered by 3^rd or 4^th grade.  By using portables such as The Writer, then computer labs are freed up “for higher level application.”

AKT recommends that with a minimum of 4 days per week in 15-30 minute sessions, students may complete the keyboarding program within six to eight weeks, depending, of course, on the age and ability of the students.  Although the program minimizes teacher preparation and record keeping, the classroom instructor does need to “be engaged instructionally.”  Before students begin the program, they need to be instructed in the foundation of posture and technique.  The publisher states the following:  “The classroom teacher needn’t be an accomplished keyboardist.  Basic posture, positioning and technique are easy to understand, to teach and to monitor.  We recommend for those teachers who are not touch typists that they learn along with their students.”

Navigation and Structure

The reviewer of this tool was not a keyboarding instructor, but if the instructor is comfortable with computers, then the design and set-up of The Writer is easy and user friendly.  Access to the device was easily done by using the basic Preview Guide – a definite plus.

Instructional Applications

Although The Writer is marketed for elementary and middle school, it can be a great tool in small, rural ABE programs that may have limited resources.  Students can use The Writer to learn keyboarding while being able to use the computers for reading, math, social studies, and science instruction via other software or the Internet.  ESL students would enjoy building vocabulary by using the thesaurus.

Back to Top  

 Back to Table of Contents