Theresa,<div>What a wonderful model! You've found a way to combine the social element of language learning with the technology-based approach. I'd love to hear more from you as it progresses. </div><div><br></div>
<div>Your observation that learners with high levels of education in their heritage language and computer skills picked up very quickly matches what we observed in the usability testing we did. But we also found that students with lower levels of education in their home countries (sixth grade or lower), at beginning ESL levels and with only modest computer skills were also able to effectively use the site. They used a straightforward approach and went through the activities sequentially (by clicking "take me to my next activity" when they signed-in to the site) but made steady progress. There were some technical demands that were challenging for them, but they didn't deter the students from using the site. These basic skills could certainly be developed in a traditional classroom program or in the FTF component of your approach. In fact, many of these students significantly exceeded the amount of time we asked them to spend in the site during the usability test. They were also very interested in having family members and friends use the site (another reason I find your model so exciting). </div>
<div><br></div><div>Thanks for sharing your experience and insight.</div><div><br></div><div>Leslie<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 5:26 AM, Theresa Pagano <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:manos@twcny.rr.com">manos@twcny.rr.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Buenos días a todos. </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">This is my first time corresponding with
all of you.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">I have just introduced USA Learns to the
mid-intermediate ESOL adult learners at the West Side Learning
Center. (past two weeks)
</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">We have established a specific time and
day each week for a Learners' Circle. Interested ELL adults and a
facilitator meet to discuss, share, and clarify any topics of choice from the
learners' USA Learns experiences. We hope to evolve into a 'language
partners' format (peer-to-peer) with language partners deciding on their
face-to-face meeting time and place. A quarterly get-together of everyone
participating is planned for Saturdays, including 'la familia'.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">We are introducing USA Learns to our local
library branches for those learners without home-based technology. </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Observation: Those learners with higher
formal education in their heritage language and experience with technology have
become engaged in USA Learns very quickly. Others have become so motivated by
the integration of language and technology learning that they arrive early and
stay later than class times in order to use it.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">I enjoy the information shared through
these Special Topics conversations.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"> </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Hasta pronto,</span></font></p>
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<p><strong><b><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy">Theresa Pagano</span></font></b></strong></p>
<p><b><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold">MANOS and West Side Learning Center</span></font></b><font color="navy"><span style="color:navy"></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold">Partners in Learning, Inc.
& Syracuse City School District</span></font></b></p>
<p><b><i><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">"A
community connected by diverse cultural and language-learning
experiences."</span></font></i></b></p>
<p><b><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold">(315) 435-4967</span></font></b><font color="navy"><span style="color:navy"></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold"><a href="mailto:manos@twcny.rr.com" target="_blank"><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">manos@twcny.rr.com</span></font></a></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold"><a href="mailto:manos@twcny.rr.com" target="_blank"></a></span></font></b><font color="navy"><span style="color:navy"> </span></font><b><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold"></span></font></b></p>
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