U.S.A. LearnsU.S.A. Learns

A Web site to teach English to adult learners

Leslie Petty

Project IDEAL Support Center

lpetty@umich.edu

A Web site to teach English to adult learners

Leslie Petty

Project IDEAL Support Center

lpetty@umich.edu

U.S.A LearnsU.S.A Learns

• A free Website to teach English• Created to test feasibility of web-based

instruction• Funded by OVAE• Focused on ESL in response to President’s

initiative • Designed primarily for independent learners,

but teachers & tutors can set up online classes• Not intended for use in lab settings

• A free Website to teach English• Created to test feasibility of web-based

instruction• Funded by OVAE• Focused on ESL in response to President’s

initiative • Designed primarily for independent learners,

but teachers & tutors can set up online classes• Not intended for use in lab settings

Need for New Ways to Reach Adult ESL Learners

Need for New Ways to Reach Adult ESL Learners

• ~ 12 millions adults need to learn English

• ~1.1 million participate in ESL classes– Many programs have waiting lists– Barriers: child care, work schedules,

transportation

• ~ 12 millions adults need to learn English

• ~1.1 million participate in ESL classes– Many programs have waiting lists– Barriers: child care, work schedules,

transportation

Does the Web Make Sense?Does the Web Make Sense?

• Clear need for innovative approaches• Internet access among target audience

growing rapidly• Many adult learners engage in self-study

activities• Supported distance learning is effective

– Unsupported distance learning is as yet untested

• Clear need for innovative approaches• Internet access among target audience

growing rapidly• Many adult learners engage in self-study

activities• Supported distance learning is effective

– Unsupported distance learning is as yet untested

Target Audience for U.S.A. LearnsTarget Audience for U.S.A. Learns• Immigrants with less than 12 years of

formal education• Older adolescents and adults• Learners not currently enrolled in formal

programs• Learners functioning at NRS levels 2

(low beginning) though 5 (high intermediate)

• Immigrants with less than 12 years of formal education

• Older adolescents and adults• Learners not currently enrolled in formal

programs• Learners functioning at NRS levels 2

(low beginning) though 5 (high intermediate)

Pedagogical Assumptions

• Language learning needs to focus on Language learning needs to focus on listening, reading, speaking and writinglistening, reading, speaking and writing

• Instructional content should be reflective Instructional content should be reflective of social and linguistic contextsof social and linguistic contexts

• Language acquisition occurs through Language acquisition occurs through meaningful use and interaction with the meaningful use and interaction with the languagelanguage

ESL Techniques AppliedESL Techniques Applied

• Comprehensible Input and Early Production – Language is supported by visuals to make

meaning clear. – Activities require one or two-word responses at

early stages.

• Focused Listening – Listening for specific information. – Helps learners build linguistic awareness and

become better listeners.

• Comprehensible Input and Early Production – Language is supported by visuals to make

meaning clear. – Activities require one or two-word responses at

early stages.

• Focused Listening – Listening for specific information. – Helps learners build linguistic awareness and

become better listeners.

ESL Techniques, ContinuedESL Techniques, Continued

• Life Skills Reading– Classified ads, application forms, etc.– Practice extracting pertinent information.

• Scaffolding– "Temporary structure" to aid construction of

meaning.

• Problem Solving – Develop critical thinking skills & communicative

competence.

• Life Skills Reading– Classified ads, application forms, etc.– Practice extracting pertinent information.

• Scaffolding– "Temporary structure" to aid construction of

meaning.

• Problem Solving – Develop critical thinking skills & communicative

competence.

Content Focus

• Survival English and life skills

• Language necessary for success in the community and workplace

Required User Skills

• Familiarity with a computer mouseFamiliarity with a computer mouse

• Ability to point and clickAbility to point and click

• Basic keyboarding familiarityBasic keyboarding familiarity

• Fundamental understanding of how a Fundamental understanding of how a Web browser operatesWeb browser operates

Features

• Intuitive interfaceIntuitive interface

• Multiple types of “help” availableMultiple types of “help” available

• Extensive use of graphics, audio and videoExtensive use of graphics, audio and video

• Can be used as registered or unregistered Can be used as registered or unregistered learner. If registered, learner tracking and learner. If registered, learner tracking and reporting is available.reporting is available.

• Separate Web site for teachers or tutors to Separate Web site for teachers or tutors to manage learner instructionmanage learner instruction

http://www.usalearns.org

http://www.usalearns.org/teacher

Thee Classes

Full “courses” for beginningFull “courses” for beginningand intermediate ESLand intermediate ESL

SupplementarySupplementarymaterialsmaterials

Teacher/Tutor SideTeacher/Tutor Side

• With online management system, teachers can :– Create an online class– Monitor students’ progress & scores– Score & comment on writing assignments– Post messages to the online class– Print instructions to help learners sign into class

– Teachers: www.usalearn.org/teacher– Students: www.usalearns.org/class

• With online management system, teachers can :– Create an online class– Monitor students’ progress & scores– Score & comment on writing assignments– Post messages to the online class– Print instructions to help learners sign into class

– Teachers: www.usalearn.org/teacher– Students: www.usalearns.org/class

Strategies for Teaching Distance Learners

Strategies for Teaching Distance Learners

• Individualized instruction to meet student’s needs

• Provide prompt feedback to students• Ask questions that elicit critical thinking• Communicate through any means

available• Encourage study w/friends or family

• Individualized instruction to meet student’s needs

• Provide prompt feedback to students• Ask questions that elicit critical thinking• Communicate through any means

available• Encourage study w/friends or family

Since launch on November 7Since launch on November 7thth

• Total visits: 642,089Total visits: 642,089

• Total page views: 38,596,187Total page views: 38,596,187

• Average page views per visit: 60Average page views per visit: 60

• Average time per visit:Average time per visit: 25:46 minutes25:46 minutes

Use of U.S.A. Learns

An independent learner:An independent learner:

““Just I want to say thanks for this program.  Is Just I want to say thanks for this program.  Is very important for me to learn English, but for very important for me to learn English, but for my job  I can’t to go to school.  Thanks again my job  I can’t to go to school.  Thanks again and God bless all of you. and God bless all of you.

Dra. Rossi Arguedas Dra. Rossi Arguedas rossi@rossiarguedas.orgrossi@rossiarguedas.org

Testimonials

An adult education teacher:An adult education teacher:

““Learners have become so motivated by the Learners have become so motivated by the integration of language and technology integration of language and technology learning that they arrive early and stay later learning that they arrive early and stay later than class times in order to use it.”than class times in order to use it.”  Theresa PaganoTheresa PaganoSyracuse City School DistrictSyracuse City School DistrictNew YorkNew York

Testimonials

A high school teacher:A high school teacher:

““My high school students have been using USA Learns a couple of times My high school students have been using USA Learns a couple of times a week since it "opened for business" and have found it very engaging a week since it "opened for business" and have found it very engaging and useful (as have I!).  Both they and I have particularly liked how easy it and useful (as have I!).  Both they and I have particularly liked how easy it is for students to listen and then record (and subsequently listen) to their is for students to listen and then record (and subsequently listen) to their repeating words.repeating words.  In fact, when I tell students during the last fifteen minutes of class that In fact, when I tell students during the last fifteen minutes of class that they can log-off and go to any of the other 9,000 links on my website, well they can log-off and go to any of the other 9,000 links on my website, well over half the class typically chooses to stay on USA Learns.”over half the class typically chooses to stay on USA Learns.”

Larry FerlazzoLarry FerlazzoLuther Burbank High SchoolLuther Burbank High SchoolSacramento, CASacramento, CA

Testimonials