March '09 Newsletter (2)
Hello to everyone Out There
I really hope your March is as mad as the proverbial hare. I have some groundbreaking developments for you today:
Italki.com make LOT an 'official partner'
Speaking, stress, Krashen, Rinvolucri, Stevick, and us
Things to buy from us
Funny names of the month
Massive free online language practice website Italki.com have made us an official partner- Over 400,000 members can't be wrong. The world of online speaking and listening practice is booming and Italki.com are at the forefront of the race to be 'the' place to meet and practice English with fluent and native speakers.
What the good folk at Italki.com have discovered though is that you need to have some structure to your speaking practice conversations, what academic linguists would call a 'focus on form', plus some idea as to how to get the most from your online engagements and ("doh") what you are actually going to discuss.
That's where our materials come in. Italki.com have tested our self-study and teachers lesson plans and think that they are superior to everything else that is currently available.
So, our specially designed and digitally produced speaking and listening materials officially 'fit' the online language learning environment.
Lathophobic aphasia is something I have been thinking about recently and is very nicely connected to the amazing piece of news above. How many learners do you know or have you taught that can read and write English but clam-up (can't speak) or get the words wrong when they need to speak?
I know. They are everywhere and this is one reason why I think online practice websites are booming and there is a lot of disenchantment with conventional teaching techniques and materials. After all, most of the Chinese and Indians studying English just want to be able to speak it well but keep doing more and more of the same despite it not actually helping them any more.
One of the reasons Out There was created way back in 2001 was to help learners overcome their problems speaking. We, somewhat unwittingly, stumbled upon a formula that boosts confidence, improves fluency and gets long-time learners of English finally speaking. It's not about the language, it is about creating a psychologically and emotionally supportive process.
Krashen, Stevick and Rinvolucri all seem to agree that anxiety impairs speaking ability. How does it happen inside your head and what can be done about it? Check out my blog:
http://www.languagesoutthere.com/articles/Why-is-it-so-hard-to-speak-English-sometimes
New EOT London course details are on the site now, just 50 GBP for a week:
http://www.languagesoutthere.com/categories/london-english-courses
There are also 10 teachers' lesson plans at each level available for individual download for just £1 each at:
http://www.languagesoutthere.com/store/
Classrooms for rent at Number 10 Coptic Street (a stone's throw from the British Museum) from the start of April for £10 an hour. Teachers if you want to teach other programmes, such as extra IELTS or FCE classes give us a call, and if any schools need more classrooms from time to time, do get in touch.
The best named people of the month:
1. Policeman in Weymouth, Dorset
... Rick O'Shea
2. Nike's Global Head of footwear
... John Trainer
3. Astronomy Professor, University of
Edinburgh... Alan Heavens.
4. The man in charge of the US $700 billion
government bail-out... Neel Kashkari
5. Representative of charity Relationships
Scotland ... Ms Gay Hickey
Until next time...
Cheers
Jason
Italki.com make LOT an 'official partner'
Speaking, stress, Krashen, Rinvolucri, Stevick, and us
Things to buy from us
Funny names of the month
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