Creating the Ultimate Language Learning Technology

Contents

• Summary
• Overview of the Current ESL Learning Technology
• New Method Fundamentals
• Here’s what does and doesn’t work
• Facilitate Blended Learning
• ESL in the Global Economy
• The Vast Market for ESL in China
• ESL Teachers Association Objective

Summary

I have developed and patented in the USA a no-grammar, no-memorization and zero-translation method of learning English. This method is called Language Bridge (LB). It comes with a fully functioning software prototype and is offered free to any ESL teacher in the world. I propose to consider LB as a foundation for progressive improvement. Any member of the ESL Association can upgrade and expand upon this method. Please join us, at no charge or cost, in creating the ultimate ESL Association.

The software contains the 31basic lessons which are instrumental in formation of the English language speech center in the brain. Further vocational and professional growth will require additional lessons and audio recordings and drills, which any teacher can easily add to the existing software without being a programmer.

The implementation of Language Bridge Technology will harmonize and integrate traditional and modern English learning. Language Bridge ensures fluency and improved pronunciation in one quarter of the time due to a new learning approach. The teachers in the ESL Association will become market leaders by applying cutting edge technology and helping adult learners acquire the habit of a natural way of learning English.

Overview of the Current ESL Learning Technology

The number of different teaching methods is staggering, with no apparent leader in the current market. ESL teachers in their teaching practice naturally use the method which they have used themselves in becoming linguists. In conventional language schools students spend most of their time attempting to comprehend English grammar and memorize new words and phrases. This approach is inefficient because modern ESL learners have new objectives and characteristics: they want to learn ESL fast using new methodology and various modern technologies.

John Fotheringham in his presentation gives a hard-hitting look at why most language learners fail despite years of effort, and suggests how you can learn foreign languages effectively with the right method, materials and attitude: http://l2mastery.com/featured-articles/language-learning-presentation#IDComment32920419

Young adults who need to learn English have different characteristics from English learners 10 years ago. Most of today's students can appropriately be labeled as "Digital Learners"; their learning habits have dramatically changed. Digital learners are well defined in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFKfXiCbLw

Here is the problem: ESL teachers naturally teach their students by the same methods they were taught in traditional teaching institutions, although Digital Learners necessitate a new approach to learning ESL. According to AJ Hoge, the author of the Effortless English course, only 3% of English learners may change their learning habits and become successful. The vast majority of English learners are stuck within obsolete learning methods. What makes the situation even worse is the fact that the number of English teachers who would agree to change their teaching methods and help learners to move to non-traditional methods is also low. To achieve the state of the art we need an Association that will motivate ESL teachers to empower themselves and help learners in acquiring new efficient learning habits.

New Method Fundamentals

The new method will contain two major components: new methodology of learning/teaching, and blending of the latest technological solutions. Language learning is different from other kinds of learning. We can't learn English in depth with the same habits and methods we use for math, science, or history. In the conventional English as a second language (ESL) programs, students are learning to speak and understand English using obsolete rules based on grammar and memorization of what the teacher explains about the new language. This is much like trying to learn to play the piano by listening to piano played by the teacher. The only way to learn to play the piano is to play it yourself. The only way to learn to speak a language is to practice it and learn it as a skill.

Language Bridge learners automatically turn off cross-translation and start forming an English language speech center in the brain using simultaneous repetition instead of consecutive. Learners spend the majority of time talking in English, using a new method that restores the innate ability to acquire a foreign language and turns every adult into a language prodigy.

The Language Bridge method could be used with or without software.
The software has a built-in feature for adding any free high quality language learning content available online, and this will be automatically transformed into a new learning/teaching environment in which English is trained and acquired as a skill. This environment contains an electronic dictionary in the native language, which is indispensable for comprehending free Internet resources by those who are only starting to learn ESL. Moreover, the LB software allows any ESL teacher to recycle his or her own teaching materials and transfer them into a new environment within the new paradigm.

When using the Language Bridge Method, one learns excellent pronunciation. One learns vocabulary quickly and easily. One understands grammar automatically -- without memorizing it. One does not translate when listening or speaking. One speaks English fast and easily. One feels strong and relaxed and speaks English effortlessly.

Here’s what does and does not work

• Use simultaneous repetition instead of consecutive repetition to ensure turning off cross-translation. Simultaneous repetition has never been used for learning a foreign language. It provides excellent results in the formation of a direct link between an image or situation and block of English words.
• Listen and imitate rather than learn from theory. Spend the majority of time talking in English using the Language Bridge software, and multiple free Internet resources which your teacher can add to the software.
• Learn English, not Grammar! Our goal: no translation, no memorizing words or phrases, no learning grammatical rules, but experience each new sentence in the situation or context.
• Use the electronic dictionary to create the image and not to remember the translation. Repeat the whole sentence many times.
• Use the testing module of the LB software for evaluating your skill of speaking automatically.
• The ability to add new lessons of your choice provides you with the option to expand your vocabulary of specialized vocational and technical terms.
• Using the New Method, every adult student becomes a language prodigy making the best use of his/her time.
• Your goal of speaking in English fluently without thinking could be achieved in 8-10 months.

Here’s what does not work

• Memorize boring grammar rules and English grammar explanations given in the native language.
• Study vocabulary lists or analyze your sentence in your head before one pronounces it.
• Use of translation drills should be abandoned because bilingual information is easily forgotten.
• Use flash cards and try to remember the meaning of separate English words.
• Listening a lot before a learner starts speaking is inefficient; it is similar to learning to play piano by listening to great pianists.
• Make cross-translation into and from the native language when a learner is listening to English language or tries to formulate a sentence in English.
• Correcting and analyzing pronunciation is inefficient since speech is subconscious process and should be trained by imitation.

Facilitate Blended Learning

To become the central portal for all ESL needs, it is necessary to drastically decrease the price of services by increasing the number of students in the online public classes, using blended learning and implementing self-training software.

Blending self-study with private and public lessons online will have a great synergistic impact on the whole process of learning. The ratio between self-study and online lessons varies from 10% to 90% and depends on students’ motivation, financial state and preferences.

The self-study software allows printing of all the text and transferring mp3 audio files to any mp3 device or cell phone. The option of working offline is also
a possibility for those who want to spend additional time and effort to facilitate progress in acquiring ESL. Online teachers may add new lessons to the existing software according to the students’ needs and objectives.

Thus all accumulated teaching materials could be recycled by teachers and added to the LB software. This software also contains an extensive dictionary in the native language and a testing module. The later is unique in that it tests the skill of speaking fluently and automatically and not the knowledge of grammar and rules of English.

The new learning environment would be phenomenally adaptable allowing online or offline use along with self-training, face-to-face, group study or combinations of the above. It could be supplemented with a concise version of the program on any PDA, Smartphone or MP3 player. So by adding reading, writing, illustrations, listening and acting, one is incorporating all the senses that will improve the quality and depth of the learning experience.

The current versions of the LB software are localized in 3 major languages: Chinese, Spanish and Russian. Members of the Association are welcome to undertake localization into their own native language.

ESL in the Global Economy

The relationship between English and globalization is a complex one: economic globalization encourages the spread of English but the spread of English also encourages globalization.
In Global English Corp’s “Globalization of English” research, 91 percent of employees of global corporations said that English is “required” or “important” in their jobs and studies show that the need is increasing dramatically with each passing quarter. 77% percent of employees use English on the job at least once a week, and nearly half use it daily.

The growth of China is having a significant impact on the world in which English is used and learned. More people than ever want to learn English. English learners are increasing in number and decreasing in age. The future of English has become more closely tied to the future of globalization itself. There is no way this demand in learning English will be met without a new methodology of technology-based learning. This is especially true since the Digital Learner appeared on the Global arena as a result of the Internet revolution. It took only 10,000 days to win the world and to change the definition of WWW to Whatever Whenever Wherever.

Vast Market for ESL in China

"Today the Chinese are obsessed with English. Anything up to a fifth of the population is learning the language." Economist 15^th April 2006, p. 61

In this global economy, especially in countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Mexico – to name but a few – knowledge of English can be the deciding factor in finding a better job or getting a promotion. The majority of adult learners encounter great difficulties in acquiring English due to inefficiency of traditional methods in learning ESL the natural way.

We need a new approach that will help adults overcome cross-translation and form an English language speech center in the brain which is independent of the native language speech center. It is our responsibility to help adult learners to restore their innate ability to become a language prodigy!

There are hundreds of “ESL for Chinese speakers” resources in the foreign languages market; some of them are very well established. However, these learning solutions have not met the actual needs of the customers because of their one-way interaction, relative inflexibility, time-constraints, and most importantly, inability to resolve the cross-translation problem. Cross-translation for most adult Chinese speakers acts as the main barrier in acquiring fluency in English.

Entrepreneurial English teacher extraordinaire Li Yang introduced "Crazy English" in Beijing on a large scale in 1994. Since then, his method has become very popular. It currently has approximately 20 million practitioners. The essence of this method is well-portrayed in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AjRkWm1jAU

In the following video Jay Walker explains why two billion people around the world are trying to learn English. He shares photos and spine-tingling audio of Chinese students rehearsing English "the world's second language" -- by the thousands: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jay_walker_on_the_world_s_english_mania.html

Language Bridge Technology offers a very efficient alternative to "Crazy English" and "English Mania". It could be implemented as a combination of self-study software and public/private online or offline classes.

According to a report titled, “English Next” by language researcher David Graddol, “... two billion people [will] be speaking or learning English within a decade.” They will require a completely new approach in learning English fast to meet this huge demand.

ESL Teachers Association Objective

Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may not remember, involve me and I'll understand.This meaningful native North American proverb created centuries ago demonstrates clearly the meaning of teaching.

We hope to build the ESL Association by using the chain reaction principle: I invite you, you invite your friend, and a friend invites his/her friend to join the Association free of charge. Combined efforts of Association members in all countries will produce unprecedented rewards due to the extremely large market of ESL learners. The ESL teachers who join this Association and implement the proposed method will be instrumental in introducing cutting edge technology that adapts and expands together with the Digital Learners of the world!

More and more linguists have come to the conclusion that the traditional methods should be brought to a new level, encompassing the latest technological and practical applications of modern linguistics. We need a multimedia, multi-sensory, constant interactivity, and personalized online learning environment that could be used by millions of adult learners 24/7.

With so much FREE, high quality language learning content available online, there is no excuse for boring content. In my opinion, the free high quality content on the Internet remains wasted to a large extent due to the fact that it should be processed using an innovative learning/teaching technology.

Such technology is on its way. The objective of the new association of ESL teachers would be Creating the Ultimate ESL Teaching Technology.

ESL Teachers of the World, Join Us in Creating the Ultimate Teaching Technology for the 21^stCentury!