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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Hello, Margaret. I'm pleased to hear that you're using English for All. That Web site was created here at Sacramento County Office of Education and will continue to be supported by OTAN (<a href="http://www.otan.us" target="_blank">www.otan.us</a>), a CA statewide leadership project.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">You're right, U.S.A. Learns (USAL) Second English Course is based on English for All (EFA). But you might think of USAL as EFA on steroids. Our creative team of content experts, led by Evelyn Fella, have made significant modifications, things that have been asked for since EFA was created more than 7 years ago. Some of the differences between the old (EFA) and the new (USAL Second English Course) include:</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">- Vocabulary: words are presented individually with audio and definitions; learners match words with definitions</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">- Spelling: learners listen to a word or phrase, spell it, then get immediate feedback</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">- Listening: learners click a word or words they hear in a sentence; learners listen and read text; learners listen to characters in context and "click" on the person who said it.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">- Dictation: learners listen to a sentence then type what they hear and get feedback</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">- Grammar: charts and tables are presented with comprehension checks</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Of particular note is the addition of listen and record (Say it!) exercises where learners can record and play back an oral exercise, comparing their pronunciation with that of a native English speaker.  Another new feature is writing exercises. If the learner is studying the Second English Course while enrolled in a USAL "class," the teacher or tutor can review the writing and provide feedback right in the online record.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Evelyn may want to add her two cents on the additional changes (improvements) that have been made.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">A student does not need to complete EFA before using USAL. USAL was designed with the idea that it would serve learners at a distance. As Leslie has pointed out, USAL was not designed for use in school or agency computer labs (at least not if you want to stay on good terms with your computer network manager). EFA includes a hybrid (CD-ROM) version which is more appropriate for use in labs. </font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">John</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;"><b><a href="mailto:specialtopics@nifl.gov">specialtopics@nifl.gov</a> on Tuesday, November 04, 2008 at 9:28 AM -0800 wrote:</b></font></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">The discussion looks very interesting. Here are my questions for USA Learns:</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">1. We are currently offering an online class for intermediate level ESOL students using English for All. We understand that USA Learns uses similar content for its intermediate level course. Please describe the difference between the intermediate level course in USA Learns and English for All.</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">2. Can a student make a smooth transition from EFA to USA Learns or does the student need to complete EFA if he/she is enrolled in that class? </font></span></div>
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