Beginner to Intermediate English in 18 hours, is it possible? You decide, listen to this audio.
publication date: May 11, 2010
|
author/source: Jason West
|
Next
Using social media to meet and make English speaking friends is a great idea for English learners. I have read (and taken part in) lots of online presentations and debates where educators and students have asked if social learning really takes place online and if anyone can provide any real evidence. This was my intention when I started to help Jane and Waldek with their English using EOT materials, Facebook and Skype.
Here's a news flash I sent out recently.
11th May 2010 - EOT News Flash - Listen to this!
Here's a news flash I sent out recently.11th May 2010 - EOT News Flash - Listen to this!
This what a Czech English teacher wrote on Skype after listening to the audio clip in this message:
Nina: Jason, great work on Jane!!
Nina: I just listened to it
Jason: She turned passive knowledge into active knowledge...fast.
Nina: Yes, indeed!
Jason: Like unblocking a plug hole ;)
Nina: Amazing :)
Nina: So how did you do that :)
Jason: Like unblocking a plug hole ;)
Nina: Amazing :)
Nina: So how did you do that :)
Jane, the learner in the audio clip, is
27. She is Chinese and studying architecture in France. She speaks
Chinese and French fluently. She has studied English formally in China for many years. There are many English learners in the world like Jane.
She contacted me using online social
media. We have never met face-to-face. Every conversation we have had
has been recorded and is available for anyone to listen to online.
- Jane studied English using EOT self-study worksheets
- Jane herself chose to start with a Beginner EOT lesson (EOT level 1 - CEF A1) with Chinese language instructions
- The sixth lesson she chose was an Intermediate lesson (EOT level 4 - CEF B2)
- She did the focused speaking practice for her six (6) lessons online with me on Skype. I did not teach her in the traditional sense
- All I did was listen, answer some questions and occasionally correct her pronunciation
Listen to this short audio clip (7
mins). It includes two clips of Jane speaking English. Try to compare
them for confidence, fluency and accuracy.
In total she did about 18 hours of study and practice.
Click on the link above, scroll down the page and click on the green 'play' button like this 
What do you think? Do please send me your thoughts and comments.
Proper newsletter coming very soon...
Cheers
Jason