Activlingua - the interactive language learning experience

Questions

1. I've never used an interactive whiteboard before - and I feel quite nervous about it. How easy is it to learn to use?

2. How long will it be before I can deliver a lesson using ACTIVLINGUA?

3. Will ACTIVLINGUA run on any make of interactive whiteboard?

4. Where is the best place to position a whiteboard?

5. How does ACTIVLINGUA software work with the interactive whiteboard?

6. We already use office presentation tools in many of our lessons - what can ACTIVLINGUA give us that's different?

7. Will we be able to run other programmes, other than ACTIVLINGUA from the interactive whiteboard?

8. What if something goes wrong? If everything's so well integrated, how will we know where the problem is?

9. I understand how the multimedia resources can encourage students to interact more - and that's great for language learning - but how can ACTIVLINGUA help with reading and writing?

10. What if we exhaust all the resources?

11. What if I lose the pen?

12. What happens if someone accidently writes with a marker pen on the interactive whiteboard?

13. What's the difference between ACTIVote and asking students to put up their hands?

14. If I switch to interactive whiteboard teaching - and then have to revert back to traditional methods for some reason - won't my lessons seem very dull by comparison?

15. How do I justify investing in ACTIVLINGUA?

Answers

1. I've never used an interactive whiteboard before - and I feel quite nervous about it. How easy is it to learn to use?

ANS: Very! We think the best way for you to learn is by actually using the whiteboard - so our interactive tutorials take you through the process at the board. A simplified toolbar in our materials eases you in gradually, and you can go at your own pace.

2. How long will it be before I can deliver a lesson using ACTIVLINGUA??

ANS: Very quickly. A complete novice could be teaching a lesson in about an hour. Whatever your learning pace, there is ample support from our interactive tutorials, Teacher's Guide, on-line support and direct support from our experienced EFL/ESL teaching staff.

3. Will ACTIVLINGUA run on any make of interactive whiteboard?

ANS: The ACTIVLINGUA system is designed to exploit and promote a wide range of student interaction. ANY whiteboard system can be upgraded to the Promethean collaborative classroom standard. This is widely regarded as an extremely effective way of teaching and learning languages. The upgrade solution has an extensive resource bank with a whiteboard remote control slate to mobilise the teacher in a language classroom. Your existing whiteboard technology can be upgraded to support individual learner feedback devices for voting, opinion gathering and assessment. Depending on your current setup, you may require additional components to run the ACTIVLINGUA system. Please contact us for further information.

4. Where is the best place to position a whiteboard?

ANS: Our consultants will advise you when they visit. They can recommend an optimum position, taking into account your facilities.

5. How does ACTIVLINGUA software work with the interactive whiteboard?

ANS: The ACTIVLINGUA materials are purpose-built to use all the interactive features of the whiteboard - and to introduce you to the possibilities gradually. This approach enables users to attain higher levels of competence in using the interactive system.

6. We already use office presentation tools in many of our lessons - what can ACTIVLINGUA give us that's different?

ANS: One of the dangers of using older generation presentation materials made in business applications, is that they were not designed specifically for teaching with interactive whiteboards. This can make the classroom too teacher-centred and this can be a negative situation in group-based language-learning. ACTIVLINGUA materials are carefully designed to effectively use ACTIVstudio the next generation application for content authoring using whiteboards. ACTIVstudio has been carefully designed to use the wide range of interactive whiteboard features and to stimulate group interaction in language-learning. This leads to lessons where the teacher can negotiate learning with the students.

7. Will we be able to run other programmes, other than ACTIVLINGUA from the interactive whiteboard?

ANS: Yes, you can access any data, programs and networks on the whiteboard just like you can on any PC. You can also access the internet on the whiteboard - a useful resource for capturing news and information on a wide range of subjects involved in language learning.

8. What if something goes wrong? If everything's so well integrated, how will we know where the problem is?

ANS: The interactive whiteboard is very durable and very reliable so the chances of something going wrong with the whiteboard are limited. The data projector is also a reliable piece of equipment and regular cleaning of the filter prolongs the bulb life.

ACTIVLINGUA provides a range of exercises such as fillers and warmers plus the Student Workbook that can be used without the whiteboard. The whiteboard and software is backed up with support from Promethean and ACTIVLINGUA.

9. I understand how the multimedia resources can encourage students to interact more - and that's great for language learning - but how can ACTIVLINGUA help with reading and writing?

ANS: There are reading and writing exercises throughout the resources. In addition to this, all the flipchart pages have worksheets which can be printed out and given as reading and writing exercises to be completed as homework, or quiet work in class. The Student Workbooks provide extensive reading and writing exercises away from the whiteboard and these build into a comprehensive student's course folder. Transcripts from all the audio exercises and printed versions of the flipcharts are also available.

10. What if we exhaust all the resources?

ANS With hundreds of flipcharts available, each containing worksheets, transcripts and workbooks it will take a time! The materials are flexible and versatile, so you have the ability to re-use the same materials in different ways. Just a few modules offer hundreds of hours of classroom time. We are developing new resources all the time across a range of levels, topics and grammar points. Visit the ACTIVLINGUA web site to keep up to date on new titles.

11. What if I lose the pen?

ANS: Don't panic! Each board has two pens and you can easily obtain new ones. The pens are battery free and robust so they last a long time.

12. What happens if someone accidently writes with a marker pen on the interactive whiteboard?

ANS: The surface of the interactive whiteboard is actually tougher than you might imagine - and whilst we wouldn't encourage permanent marker use, most marks do come off. We would advise special cleaning methods if necessary.

13. What's the difference between ACTIVote and asking students to put up their hands?

ANS: Our resources are designed to work with or without the ACTIVote hand-held devices. Individual student feedback is important for the teacher to know every student's level of understanding. This enables the lesson to be focused on students' individual needs. Sometimes a show of hands gives a false reading because some students don't really know the answers and will put their hand up to follow others.

If you've ever watched certain TV game-shows, you'll be aware of audience-voting using hand-held keypads. Once you've voted, graphs can instantly appear to show the percentages of voters for each question. ACTIVote works in a similar but even more powerful way. Students have six choices and the way the results are displayed and analysed is far more flexible. The voters can be named or anonymous, and the results can be printed out or saved in a spreadsheet for assessment purposes.
Apart from that, students love the element of competition - much more fun than putting up your hand!

14. If I switch to interactive whiteboard teaching - and then have to revert back to traditional methods for some reason - won't my lessons seem very dull by comparison?

ANS: Probably YES!

Many of our customers tell us that after experiencing teaching with whiteboards they would never want to go back purely to "chalk and talk" - because they and the students enjoy the interactive experience too much!

15. How do I justify investing in ACTIVLINGUA?

Firstly, ACTIVLINGUA will bring you many gains. Here are just some of them:

Higher staff motivation can lead to reduced turnover in teachers

The image of your organisation is reinforced through the quality of materials

There's easier lesson preparation for staff

A better language learning experience for your students, enables you to attract more customers

You can achieve better results from less experienced teachers

Secondly, ACTIVLINGUA can bring you many savings:

It's less expensive than developing your own materials

You keep and retain your own materials bank in your premises and are therefore less exposed when teachers leave

It saves you buying text books

It enables you to quickly cross-train teachers to use interactive whiteboards effectively

Investing in one whiteboard with materials, costs less than buying multiple PC's in each classroom

If you have any of your own questions, we'd be happy to answer them. Please see Contact us.