Merit Software Dispatch » english language learning

3 New English Language Learning Bundles

meritsoftware — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:00:01 +0000

Introducing 3 new suites of its online English language programs. The suites present several of Merit’s popular reading, vocabulary, writing, and grammar programs grouped by level of ability and offered at discounted prices.

For information, pricing, tours, and implementation ideas go to:

Investing In Innovation (i3) Fund

meritsoftware — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:35:36 +0000

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced preliminary guidelines for the $650 Million Investing In Innovation (i3) grant program.

Unlike the previously announced Race to the Top funds which were only for public schools, i3 funds will also be available to non-profits, charter schools, colleges, and private companies.

i3 will look to fund programs that advance key education reforms, four of which include: building college and career-ready standards, providing data systems to support improved instruction, strengthening teacher and principal quality, and helping to turn around failing schools.

Later this fall the U.S. federal register will publish procedures for applying for the i3 fund. There will be a comment period, followed by an application, and then awards will be made in early 2010.

“We’re looking for ways to boost student achievement, matriculation, and graduation rates– and we expect successful applicants will be able to demonstrate some success in closing achievement gaps, moving students toward proficiency, increasing graduation rates, and retaining high-quality teachers and principals,” said Secretary Duncan.

Areas of concern specifically mentioned in the speech were:

supporting promising interventions for at-risk students;
accelerating adolescents who are years behind;
helping ELL students learn the language and the content;
developing online content; and
assisting students with disabilities to complete college-ready work.

Merit Software products have a strong track record of helping educational organizations provide innovative school reform efforts.

The full text version of Secretary Duncan’s speech is available at http://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/2009/08/08202009.html

For more information about Merit Software’s full product line go to http://meritsoftware.com/

U.S. educators who have questions about how to access stimulus funds can click here to contact a Merit representative.

Is English Language Instruction Just to Pass Tests?

meritsoftware — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:35:01 +0000

A new report on the needs of English language learners in two of the world’s fastest growing economies, India and China, was released last week by the British Council.

Among the findings was that, particularly in India, while English is taught in all schools, it is taught with an emphasis on passing tests rather than a real understanding.

A great deal of effort goes into teaching the basics of English language to students in India and China. However, these students need a way to immerse themselves in English.

Using Merit’s English language writing programs, Paragraph Punch and Essay Punch, can serve this purpose.

With the Punch writing programs students learn to write clearly and concisely. Program prompts guide students step-by-step through pre-writing, writing, organizing, revising, and editing.

Students go beyond merely passing tests to attaining a real, lifelong understanding of English.

Read more about the British Council’s research report

What’s your view? How do you think English language instruction can be improved?

What Holds English Language Learners Back in Korea?

meritsoftware — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:27:48 +0000

Approaching English as a purely technical task, says Jon Huer, columnist for the Korea Times, is what explodes in the face of most Korean learners of English. For students to learn English, according to Huer, they must learn to “think in English.”

Huer believes that at the core of Koreans’ difficulty in learning English is their reluctance to learning about the larger cultural context in which the language resides.

To help Korean learners think in English and become acquainted with American culture requires the use of interesting texts combined with a consistent, integrated approach over the course of the term. Book Punch can serve that purpose for English as a foreign language learners.

Book Punch offers a window on American culture by providing interactive literacy activities about books commonly read by American students. It helps students of different abilities to organize their thoughts and write clear and concise responses to questions about American literature.

By using popular American literature, Book Punch’s activities are based on topics that provide a window on American culture to Korean learners.

English language learners will also appreciate the “technical” aspect of the Book Punch program. Instead of using paper and pencil, responses are written with Book Punch software to help students sustain the flow of their ideas. When writing with Book Punch, students do not have to worry about erasing and starting over.

Book Punch’s individualized tips and feedback provide step-by-step help throughout the writing and thinking processes.

Click here to read Jon Huer’s article

Do you agree with Jon Huer? Do you think English language learners are reluctant to learn about English speaking cultures?