Learning English at a Distance LEAD A Distance Learning Program for Adult English Speakers of Other Languages Student Orientation Materials and Learning Handbook 2017-2018 Intermediate English: USA Learns Course 2 Notre Dame Education Center South Boston, MA The LEAD Program is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Adult and Community Learning Services.
Welcome to Learning English at a Distance. (LEAD) Here is what USA Learns Course 2. students learn: Intermediate level English skills (reading, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, writing) How to use these English skills in everyday English conversation Life skills in the U.S.A., in families, the workplace, and the community USA Learns Course 2 is for students who have finished the beginning level of English study. LEAD students can learn any place where there is a computer with Internet access: at home, at a school, in a computer lab, in the library. Your online teacher in LEAD helps students through email, video conversation or by telephone, not in a regular classroom. Are you interested in LEAD? Are you ready for intermediate English? If you are interested, please read this handbook carefully. This handbook tells you what it is like to study English through distance learning on a computer. If you choose to join the LEAD program, you must meet with a LEAD teacher to take a test, to complete the forms to enroll in the program, to learn how to use the LEAD lessons on the computer, and to get the materials you need to study the lessons online. 1
What is Distance Learning? Look at this picture: You see two people working at a computer. One of them is the distance learning teacher. The other is the distance learning student (maybe you?). These two people are not in the same place. Distance learners and distance teachers do not work in a classroom at the same time in the same place. Distance learning students and teachers can be in different rooms, different buildings, or even in different cities. They can even be in different states or different countries. Distance learning students study at home, in the library, at work, in school computer labs, and in other places where they can use a computer with Internet access. The student is studying an English lesson on the Internet. The student can be working anywhere where there is a computer and an Internet connection. The student is completing exercises and assignments on the computer. The completed work goes onto the Internet in a special place where only the teacher can see it.. The student can also send an email message to the teacher to ask a question, and get an answer from the teacher on email. The teacher is at home or at school, not in the same place as the student. The English teacher is correcting the student s completed work on the Internet, and can also send an email to the student to answer a question, or to give directions for more learning activities. Sometimes the teacher and the student meet, but usually they communicate by email or telephone. This is distance learning. Do you think you can learn and communicate with your teacher mostly at a distance? 2
Is Distance Learning good for you? How is it the same as regular classroom learning? Distance learning is the same as a regular English class because students work with an English teacher. watch movies and read stories to learn about American culture. listen to people speaking English. learn new vocabulary and practice pronunciation. study grammar and write practice exercises. write answers to questions and short writing assignments. How is distance learning different from regular classroom learning? Distance learning is different from a regular class because students are not in the same place as the teacher or other students. make their own study schedule and decide when and where to study. communicate by email or the telephone to get answers and suggestions from the teacher or from other students. take responsibility for learning independently much of the time. organize study time for themselves individually and independently.. Is distance learning good for you? Read and answer the self-test on the next page to find out the answer to this question. 3
Is Distance Learning for Me? Distance learning is good for some students. See if it is good for you. I am good at organizing my time. When I need to do something, I am good at completing it and I don t need someone to remind me. I feel comfortable using computers. There are places I can go to use a computer with Internet (my home, a friend s home, the library, or another place.) I am comfortable studying alone. I do not need to sit with other students and a teacher to learn. I feel comfortable reading instructions. I like to try to understand instructions, and then ask for help if I need it. I feel comfortable asking the teacher for help when I need it. Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Adapted from Are Telecourses for Me? PBS-Adult Learning Services, The Agenda, 1994 and Anywhere, Anytime Learning News, Spring 2006 If you answered yes to most of these questions, then distance learning is for you! If you answered no, please talk with your teacher to see if you can work together to make distance learning work for you. 4
What will I learn in LEAD? In the LEAD program, students use the Internet and 20 lessons on the website, U.S.A. Learns! Second Course. Students who enroll in L.E.A.D will be tested to make sure they are ready to learn intermediate level English, and can learn on the computer. In the LEAD program, you will learn about cultural information and ways to live better in the United States. Getting a job, and choosing a career Health and safety on the job and in daily life Ways to succeed in the workplace Managing family life and a home Dealing with taxes and the legal system Participating in your community Parenting and workplace roles Learning opportunities for adults and for their children In LEAD you will practice intermediate level English. Grammar Writing Vocabulary Pronunciation. Understanding spoken English Reading written English Teachers in LEAD will give you suggestions on how to practice and improve your English speaking skills. Think about where you use English now. Think about your goals and the English you need to learn to reach your goals. Think about the information on this page, and look at the outline of the LEAD course on page 6. Do you think you can learn useful English skills in the LEAD program? 5
Outline of the 20 Lessons of USA Learns! Second Course Intermediate Level English Speakers of Other Languages The 20 Lessons of the Second English Course are presented in five Units. In each Unit you find a new set of characters and a new story on video with practice activities. Unit 1 - Workers and the Workplace (Lessons 1-4) 1. Job and Career Advancement 2. On the Job Health and Safety 3. Support Systems for Injured Workers 4. Supervisors and Teamwork Unit 2 - Housing and Family Life (Lessons 5-8) 5. Managing Family Life 6. Using Information Services 7. Accessing Services 8. Men s Changing Roles Unit 3 - Taxes, Law and Community Issues (Lessons 9-12) 9. Dealing with Taxes 10. Dealing with the Law 11. Discussing Community Issues 12. Civic Participation Unit 4 - Parenting and Workplace Roles (Lessons 13-16) 13. Parenting in the United States 14. Women s Changing Roles 15. Women s Work Issues 16. Women in Non-Traditional Roles Unit 5 - Education and Information (Lessons 17-20) 17. Accessing Learning Opportunities 18. Involvement in Children s Education 19. Transferring Professional Degrees 20. Learning to Learn 6
Time Management for LEAD Distance Learners If you want to succeed in distance learning, it is important to know where, when and how you will study. Here are some important questions students must decide for themselves: 1. Where can I use a computer when I want to study my LEAD lessons? 2. What day (or days) will be best for me to study my LEAD lessons? 3. What time of day can I find between 30 minutes and one hour (or more!) to study my LEAD lesson? 4. Can I study in LEAD without any interruptions from other people? 5. Can I find time to study in the LEAD program? Good distance learners decide the answers to these 5 important questions before they start the class. make sure they review their study plans often. change their learning schedule to fit any changes in their schedule of family, work and other activities. make learning goals for each week. (Your goals should include finishing at least one USA Learns lesson each week.) Don t just think about your schedule. Write it down! Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Morning Afternoon Evening Are you sure you can make your own study schedule and keep working on a study schedule every week?
Working with my Distance Learning teacher 7 My online teacher is at Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston: Online teacher s name Online teacher s email Online teacher s phone I also have a contact teacher to help me face to face at my local agency. My local contact information is: Local contact teacher s name Local contact teacher s email Local contact teacher s phone
Program Rules for LEAD Every student who joins the LEAD program must: 8 Participate in an orientation meeting and training (at least 4 hours at the school) to get ready to study online with a distance learning teacher Study 5 hours every week and respond to your online teacher s e-mails. Report immediately to your contact teacher any problems that make it difficult for you to do the online lessons (computer problems, schedule problems, illness, travel) Tell your teacher if you will be late or must cancel meetings. Take a test of English skills at the beginning of your study in LEAD and a second test after you complete a number of lessons. Learner Contract Signatures I understand and agree to follow the rules above: Student s Name Date Teacher s Name Date Keep this agreement with you to remember your promise to follow these rules! 9
How do I know I m succeeding in the distance learning class? Here are three ways that distance learners can succeed: 1. Successful distance learners study their mistakes so they don t make them again. The lessons on the website USA Learns! Course 2 show you when you make a mistake. If you can t fix your mistake, the website gives you the right answer. Do you try to understand your mistake, do you ask the online teacher for help, or do you just move to the next question? Successful distance learners study their mistakes so they don t make them again. 2. Successful distance learners know what to do next in each lesson. The USA Learns! Course 2 website shows you when you have finished an activity and when you have finished a lesson. Do you check to make sure you finish all the activities in each lesson? Do you make sure you finish the whole lesson before you go to the next one? Successful distance learners know how to read the directions on the website. Successful distance learners know what to do next. 3. Successful distance learners use email, phone, video conversations or visits to stay in touch with their teacher. In the LEAD class, your online teacher can see what work you did on the computer. Do you try to stay in contact with your teacher? Do you make sure your teacher sees new assignments from you every week? Does your teacher get an email from you every week so you ask for help or share your ideas about the lessons? Do you finish online work every week or email your teacher every week? Successful distance learners use phone, e-mail or video conversation in weebly and visits with their contact teacher at least once a month. 10