Language Connector

Dahwun Kim

Jonathan Palley

Wuping Lu

Guided English Conversation Learning

Huodoushan Village• Luanping County, Heibei Province, China• One of the poorest village in the poorest county• Provides drinking water for China’s Capital city; Beijing• Therefore, the environment is stringently protected and n

o industry is allowed

Unique resource = Tourism

Most Beautiful part of The Great Wall (World Heritage of UNESCO)

Main source of income = Sell products to Tourists

User – Bei

My Name is Bei and I’m 14. I live in Huodoushan village with my mother, father, three sisters and one brother. I take care of them while my mother sells grass made toys and snacks to tourists.

My parents say good education is important so I go to school in the afternoon. In school we learn English but the teacher rarely speaks English. I think he doesn’t know much English. I cannot speak English.

I envy my friend’s big sister, Tao because she can speak English and she makes a lot of money as a tour guide. She says she will go to the big city or study abroad one day. I wish I could be like her.

Bei’s Daily Life and Dream

• 400 students (mean family income = $162 per year)• In 2002, Ameco company donated 40 computers with internet access.• Poor quality English teachers (high school diploma is the highest degr

ee)• In 2003, Ameco sent 3 volunteers to teach intensive spoken English• Fluency in English will provide students with more opportunities.• Knowledge-based Learning vs Performance-based Learning• Need a long term solution.

Ameco Hope Middle school students in Huodoushan Village

Learning Situation

Allows distant native speaker volunteers the ability to train local students

Language Connector

BeiStudentHuodoushan Village, China

Jane DoeEnglish SpeakerUnited States

+Voice andVideo over

IP + Guided Conversation Space

Educational Goals

• What?– Focus : fluency in Speaking English– Provides pedagogical guided conversation with volunteer native

speakers

• How?– Guided Learning ; Scenario based learning activities and assessment

tools – Performance-based ; Recording of conversation and feedback

• So what?– Makes the conversation more structured so learning is effective– Scenario based learning mirroring real life situations– Builds Metacognitive skills (ability to monitor their learning)– Makes the learning fun and enjoyable– Motivates students– Improves English skills for hopes of future economic success

Student: Step 1: Selecting Scenario

Jane Doe is online and ready to talk to you!

Select a Scenario:

Greeting VisitorsTaking a food orderGiving a tour of Wall

Giving DirectionsDealing with Money

NOTE: This screen will be in Chinese as well

Student: Step 2: Reviewing Learning Goals

You are about to start theTaking a Food Order Scenario

Here’s the words to try to use:• Menu• Spicy• Salty• Low-fat• Special

You should practice:

• Answering questions about the menu

• Taking an order

• Responding to changes in orders

Begin

NOTE: This screen will be in Chinese as well

Trainer: Guided Conversation Space

Scenario: Ordering Food

The word is: abundance

Make CorrectionSend Text

You Said: “Fresh salad has most desireI would say: “Fresh salad is the most desired”

Vocab To Use✔ Hot✔ Rice✔ Spicy

Based on menu, ask:✔ student to

describe two items on menu

✔ student’s recommended dish and why.

✔ Chef’s special ✔ Is [item] spicy?✔ Is [item] salty?✔ Is [item] fatty?

Place an order✔ Student

should ask about drink

✔ Ask how long it will take to make

✔ Request price

Discussion✔ What would you

put on the menu?✔ Why?

Move on to receiving food

Provides questions and material for trainers –guiding conversation

Shared visual space with learner. Includes images (i.e. menu) to prompt conversation,

anddrawing and whiteboard

tools

Structured and

recordable templates for

feedback

Vocabulary student is trying

to learn

Student: Guided Conversation Space

The word is: abundance

Please say that againCan you type that word?

You Said: “Fresh salad has most desireI would say: “Fresh salad is the most desired”

Vocab To Use✔ Hot✔ Rice✔ Spicy

Shared visual space with learner. Includes images (i.e. menu) to prompt conversation,

anddrawing and whiteboard

tools

IntegratedVocabulary

lookup

Vocabulary student is trying

to learn

Jane Doe

Video over IP – video greatly enhances ability to learn language

Abundance: ###

Add to vocab

Recordable methods

to interact with trainer without interrupting

flow of conversation

Scenario Progress

• You’ve answer 12 of 30 questions.

•You have used 5 of the recommended vocab words

•Your trainer has made 10 corrections

Student: Feedback

Feedback

Comprehensible but may need some inferences

Questions you had trouble with:

•What dish would you recommend

•How long will it take

Word/Phrases to practice pronouncing

•Spicy

•Be right backReview Conversation