DOMINO II 1 USER GUIDE LaRC The Language and Reading Companion For Mac OS and Windows Pedagogical design Lydia Froio and Josephine Moffa Software design Guilaine Binet Centre collégial de développement de matériel didactique Cégep de Maisonneuve
LaRC (The Language and Reading Companion) is a production of the Centre collégial de développement de matériel didactique (CCDMD) supported financially by the Ministère de l Éducation du Québec. This product was developped with PRISME, a development system from Micro-Intel inc. Pedagogical design Lydia Froio, Collège de Maisonneuve Josephine Moffa, Collège de Maisonneuve Software design Guilaine Binet and Lucie Trépanier Graphics and Layout Christine Blais Software Validation Sylvain Gagnon, CCDMD Narration Bob Harding (The Snob), June Wallack (Epominondes) Sound Production Communication SVRA International inc. Sound Studio PCS Productions inc. Video Clips Editing Lydia Froio, Collège de Maisonneuve CCDMD Author of PRISME development system Anne Bergeron Renaud Nadeau Guillaume Cartier Ernest Yale Martin Longpré Houman Zolfaghari Rights of reproduction Notice to the user No reproduction of this document is allowed without the express authorization in writing from the CCDMD. This authorization is given only to those educational institutions in the province de Quebec who have obtained a copy of the document from the CCDMD or from one of its authorized agents. This software application has been verified and tested to the best of our ability. As a result, the CCDMD divests itself of all responsibility for any losses or damages that could result from the use or non-use of the software application. LaRC, for Mac OS and Windows USER GUIDE, all rights reserved Centre collégial de développement de matériel didactique, 2000 ISBN 2-89470-092-X (Epominondes) ISBN 2-89470-108-X (The Snob) Legal deposit: Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, 2000 Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000
Table of Contents Acknowledgements................................................4 1 Introduction....................................................5 1.1 Minimal Configuration..........................................5 1.2 Contents of the CD-ROM........................................5 1.3 Running the Program..........................................6 1.4 Navigating in LaRC............................................6 2 LaRC Menus....................................................7 2.1 Spiral Menu.................................................7 2.2 Star Menu..................................................8 2.3 Introduction.................................................9 2.4 Reader...................................................10 2.5 Glossary..................................................11 2.6 Workbook.................................................12 2.6.1 Reading Comprehension...................................13 2.6.2 Language Study.........................................17 2.7 Logbook..................................................23 2.8 Help.....................................................24 3 Appendix......................................................25 3.1 Troubleshooting.............................................25 3.2 Contacting the Authors........................................25 3.3 A Word to Teachers...........................................25 3.4 Suggested Discussion Themes....................................26
Acknowledgements 4 Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the CCDMD for their support of this project. They are especially grateful to Katharine O Flynn and Barry Callaghan for believing in the program and granting permission to use the stories as well as allowing us to interview them. We acknowledge and thank those who have granted reprint permission.
Introduction 5 1 Introduction This user guide is addressed to students at all levels who wish to increase their knowledge of English using literature. Teachers will find within these pages an explanation of the software and ways in which they can incorporate LaRC in the curriculum. Language and Reading Companion (LaRC) is a software program to learn English by reading and listening to stories written for English speakers. It is divided into four sections: the Reader, the Glossary, the Workbook and the Logbook. Besides reading and listening to stories, students can do comprehension exercices as well as a variety of language study activities. With the various options available, students will learn and practice new vocabulary, check comprehension and practice listening and writing. Students can open a file of their work and 1. listen to the story and follow the words on the screen; 2. click on a word to get the definition and hear the pronunciation; 3. watch a series of video clips about the author; 4. complete a variety of comprehension exercises; 5. do a variety of language study exercises; 6. save and print a record of their work. 1.1 Minimal configuration The software can be used on any Power Macintosh computer running MacOS (system 7.0 or higher) or on an IBM or compatible (Windows 95) with 32 MB of memory. The computer must be equipped with a CD-ROM drive, a sound card, and a color screen capable of displaying thousand of colors and with a resolution of 800 x 600. QuickTime 4 must be installed. 1.2 Contents of the CD-ROM The CD-ROM contains : The Macintosh and Windows versions of the software ACROBAT READER to print the LaRC User Guide Quick Time 4.0 Installer.
Introduction 6 1.3 Running the Program You can run LaRC directly from the CD-Rom. The files can also be copied to the hard drive. If necessary, QuickTime 4.0 must be installed the installation program is on the CD-Rom. 1.4 Navigating in LaRC There are several ways to navigate in LaRC. In the book: Click on the arrows at the bottom of the page. Access different functions through the two hidden menus beside these icons on the left page: To access the glossary: Double click on a word in the story. Open the glossary under. In the Workbook, you can open other exercises using the menu at the top of the right page.
2 LaRC Menus You have to move your mouse over the LaRC Menus 7 to access the LaRC menus. 2.1 Spiral Menu New Opens a new LaRC file. Opening a new file generates a new series of language study exercises. Open Opens an existing LaRC file with all the data from your previous work sessions. Save Saves the results of your work in the Logbook. Save as Allows you to rename a file. Credits Opens the credits page for the software. Quit Exits the program.
LaRC Menus 8 2.2 Star Menu Introduction Opens the title page of the story. From here, you can also access the video clips. Reader Opens the story which you can read and listen to. Glossary Opens the dictionary of words from the story. Workbook Opens the workbook of comprehension exercises and language study activities. Logbook Opens the record book of your completed work and scores. Help Opens the on-line help describing the software functions.
LaRC Menus 9 2.3 Introduction The introduction gives you information about the author through a series of video clips. You can access these by clicking on any of the titles listed under the main headings. In Epominondes, both Video Clips 1 and Video Clips 2 deal with the same topics. However, in Video Clips 1, the vocabulary might be a little easier to understand. Video Clips 2 has more detail and slightly different information. The background sounds in Video Clips 2 might present a slightly higher level of difficulty. In The Snob, Barry Callaghan talks about story, his father, and his own work. These clips were developed using an informal audio recording and some visual aids to facilitate comprehension. The informality of the taping affected the quality of the recording to some degree. Lower level students might find it harder since there is no video recording of the speaker.
LaRC Menus 10 2.4 Reader To adjust the volume, hold down. To play or pause the reading, click on. Click on to go back to the beginning of the page. To control the book manually, click on the right arrow to turn the page. Then click on play to continue the reading.
LaRC Menus 11 2.5 Glossary You can access the words in the glossary in one of two ways: Click on a word in the story. Select the glossary in. When the cursor moves over the words in the story, the cursor changes to a pointing finger to indicate that the word is in the glossary. Click on the word and the definition will appear. The word is highlighted in the glossary. Click on the word to hear it pronounced. You can also scroll through the glossary. Place the cursor over the square on the slide bar on the right of the glossary window, and while holding down the mouse, slide the square up or down. You can also click on the up or down arrow and the words will scroll. Please note: Not every word in the story is in the glossary. The authors have assumed that users have some knowledge of English.
LaRC Menus 12 How to Read the Glossary The glossary defines the words as they are used in the story. The definition includes the part of speech, the definition expressed in one or two ways and some grammar and cultural notes wherever appropriate. In cases where the verbs are defined, you are given the stem (infinitive), past and past participle for the irregular verbs. Regular verbs include a pronunciation guide for the -ed sound in the definition. The -ed ending of regular verbs is pronounced either as /d/, /t/, or /id/. played play-/d/ wanted want-/id/ picked pick-/t/ 2.6 Workbook The Workbook is divided into two main sections: Reading Comprehension and Language Study, each with a number of different exercise types. The results and record for the work done is collected in the Logbook.
LaRC Menus 13 2.6.1 Reading Comprehension The Reading Comprehension questions test your understanding of the story and proceed from easier question formats to more complex question formats. The true-false and multiple choice questions are corrected by LaRC. However, the short answer and essay and discussion questions cannot be computer-corrected. These must be written or typed and submitted to the teacher for evaluation. You can change exercises easily from this menu. Select any of the exercises listed. You can also use the Logbook to get to a particular question quickly. See the Logbook for more information. True-False Comprehension Questions Click in the circle next to the correct answer. Then click on the to verify your answer. The feedback message appears on the left page. If you have made a mistake, LaRC will display the part of the story you need to reread to answer correctly.
LaRC Menus 14 Multiple Choice Comprehension Questions Click in the circle next to the correct answer. Then click on the to verify your answer. The feedback message appears on the left page. If you have made a mistake, LaRC will display the part of the story you need to reread to answer correctly.
LaRC Menus 15 Short Answer Questions Type your answer using the word processor of your choice. Write complete sentences making sure you have answered the question. Support your answer with examples and quotations from the story. We recommend that you use a spell checker that is available in most word processors to help you avoid unnecessary mistakes. For some of the questions, the relevant passage is displayed. Some other questions require a global understanding of the story. If you are working on the story as self-study, you are encouraged to send your work to the authors who will provide comments on the quality of your answer and your ability to write English. See the contact information at the end of this guide. Note to Macintosh users To access the desktop or to open a word processor, press command-tab.
LaRC Menus 16 Essay and Discussion Questions Type your answer using the word processor of your choice. Write complete sentences making sure you have answered the question. Support your answer with examples and quotations from the story. We recommend that you use a spell checker that is available in most word processors to help you avoid unnecessary mistakes. For some of the questions, the relevant passage is displayed. Some other questions require a global understanding of the story. If you are working on the story as self-study, you are encouraged to send your work to the authors who will provide comments on the quality of your answer and your ability to write English. See the contact information at the end of this guide. Note to Macintosh users To access the desktop or to open a word processor, press command-tab.
LaRC Menus 17 2.6.2 Language Study The Language Study questions test your ability to understand and use the language. There are two types of Cloze and Dictations - the first types are less complex than the second. All the exercises are corrected by LaRC and the results are saved in the Logbook. You can change exercises easily from this menu. Select any of the exercises listed. You can also use the Logbook to get to a particular question quickly. See the Logbook for more information. Cloze - Multiple Choice Click in the rectangle to open the pop-up menu. Click on the correct word. Do all the parts of the question. Click on the to verify your answer. The feedback message appears on the left page.
LaRC Menus 18 Cloze - Fill in the Blanks Type the missing word in the spaces provided. You can click on for additional help. or will give you the letter that comes in the position where you have put the cursor. will give you the word in the space where you have put the cursor.
LaRC Menus 19 Dictation - words Click on the play button on the audio control bar to begin the dictation. Listen carefully and type the missing word in the appropriate space. Listen as often as you want. You can also click on or for additional help. will give you the letter that comes in the position where you have put the cursor. will give you the word in the space where you have put the cursor. Click on the to verify your answer. Note: The dictations in The Snob are based on a simplified version of the story. Listening to this version can help you to understand the original version.
LaRC Menus 20 Dictation - sentences Click on the play button on the audio control bar to begin the dictation. Listen carefully and type the words you hear in the space provided. Listen as often as you want. Click on the to verify your answer. Incorrect words are displayed in red. If all the words are red, you might want to verify whether there is a word missing. Listen again and add the missing word(s). Then click on to verify your answer.
LaRC Menus 21 Vocabulary Match LaRC randomly selects fifty words from the Glossary for the Vocabulary Match exercise. When you save your work, the fifty words are also saved. Therefore, if you want to practice other words, you must open a new LaRC file. Click in the circle next to the correct answer. Click on the to verify your answer.
LaRC Menus 22 Word Order Put the words in the list in correct order. Drag the words into the rectangle. Click on the to verify your answer. The words in the wrong position will bounce back to the list.
LaRC Menus 23 Logbook The Logbook saves a record of the work you have completed and the scores you obtained in each of the exercises. You can print the Logbook. Click on. You can return to any of the questions in any of the exercises by clicking on the number of the question. LaRC randomly selects fifty words from the Glossary for the Vocabulary Match exercise. When you save your work, the fifty words are also saved. Therefore, if you want to practice other words, you must open a new LaRC file.
Appendix 24 3 Help The Help menu gives on-line information about the different aspects of the program. Click on one of the topics from the Table of Contents or click on the right or left arrows. Click on the arrows. to go back to the Tables of Contents or click on the right or left Use the Slide Bar to see more information.
Appendix 25 Appendix 3.1 Troubleshooting If LaRC does not open, then the correct version of QuickTime is not on the hard drive. Install QuickTime 4.0 which you will find on the CD-ROM. In Dictation - sentences, if all the words are red, you might want to verify whether there is a word missing. Listen again and add the missing word(s). Then click on the to verify your answer. 3.2 Contacting the authors You can contact the authors at ESL_Teacher@canada.com TLCservices@videotron.ca www.eslteacher.com 3.3 A Word to Teachers Thank you for choosing to include LaRC in your course. In our experience with the program, students have appreciated the diversity of exercises offered and the ability to work at their own pace. The topics make it easy to include LaRC in any curriculum. LaRC can be used as a course book either in class, in a computer lab or for selfstudy at home. It can also be used in a single computer class. Using LaRC as a self-study unit frees class time for more communicative activities and discussion. The Logbook assures that the work has been completed and motivates students to improve their scores. The printout of the Logbook can be collected periodically for follow-up. This is especially interesting in cases where the program is used for self-study Students can do peer reviews of the short answer and essay questions. At some levels, it might be appropriate to have a discussion. After the students have had time to write their answers and compare theirs with a classmate's, they can express their answers orally.
Mendel 26 3.4 A Few Discussion Themes Family relationships Games children play Parenting Imagination and role playing Adolescence Social relationship The videos can also serve as stimuli for writing and speaking activities. Students can research other works by the same authors or of the period. For more information about worksheets for the video clips, test questions and other paper based activities, please contact TLC Services. TLCservices@videotron.ca