Discover the world of English! English Discoveries Online
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WHAT IS ENGLISH DISCOVERIES ONLINE?
Objectives  
For Learners
For Teachers
WHAT ARE THE ENGLISH DISCOVERIES ONLINE COURSES?
Levels
Units
Methodology
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT DOES ENGLISH DISCOVERIES ONLINE PROVIDE THE LEARNER?
General Support Tools
Support Tools in Courses
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH COURSE TO START WITH?
WHAT IS THE ENGLISH DISCOVERIES ONLINE COMMUNITY SITE?
IS ENGLISH DISCOVERIES ONLINE COMPATIBLE WITH STANDARD EFL EXAMINATIONS?
ENGLISH DISCOVERIES ONLINE - OVERVIEW OF LEVELS
Basic
Intermediate
Advanced
CORRELATIONS
English Discoveries Online

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What is English Discoveries Online?

English Discoveries Online is a comprehensive English learning program that combines Internet multimedia technology with the latest teaching methods to provide courses, activities and options that ensure your English learning success.

Objectives

The focus of English Discoveries Online is on using English as a means of International communication in the 21st century.

  • To improve overall English proficiency
  • To develop Internet literacy in English

For Learners

  • Self-study Courses
  • Placement Test
  • Community Site

For Teachers

  • Comprehensive Teacher Management System
  • Detailed Teacher's Guide
  • User's Manuals
  • Training
  • Table of correlations between English Discoveries Online and standard international EFL examinations

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What are the English Discoveries Online Courses?
The program has 9 courses divided into 3 levels. Each level has 3 courses in it.

Levels

  • Basic
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced  

Units
Each course consists of 8 topic-based units that cover subjects of general interest.
In every unit you work on:

  • Listening
  • Reading
  • Speaking
  • Grammar

In total, the courses provide more than 800 hours of instruction.
Click here for a more detailed description of the courses.

Methodology
There are 3 modes of working in English Discoveries Online courses.


In Explore you are presented with the language content. Rich multimedia is used to bring the English alive and it is presented in real-life situations.

·        In Reading you are exposed to a range of texts reflecting the texts you will read in real life.

·        Listening covers a range of media including TV, radio and answering machine.

·        In the Speaking section you listen to animated dialogues and improve your speaking using speech recognition technology that listens to you and evaluates your pronunciation.

·        In Grammar, animations present the grammar point in context.

In Practice mode you reinforce and practice the material presented in Explore.

In Test mode, you are evaluated on your proficiency in each area.

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What kind of support does English Discoveries Online provide the learner?

In the English Discoveries Online Courses there is a range of online features designed to provide you with all the support you need to effectively and independently succeed in your studying. In addition, general support tools are accessible from every screen in the program.

General Support Tools

  • Bilingual learner's dictionary - with a recording of every headword
  • Progress report of your work
  • Online help

Support Tools in Courses

  • Recordings of all written texts
  • Scripts of listening passages
  • Speech Recognition
  • Main ideas
  • Reference words
  • Key words
  • Animated examples
  • Grammar book
  • Translations
  • Print option  

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How do I know which course to start with?
The Placement Test evaluates your level of English and recommends the course you should start with.

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What is the English Discoveries Online Community Site?
The English Discoveries Online Community site provides you with access to a worldwide community of language learners just like yourself! The Community site enables you to practice your English in real communication with people all over the world.

  • You can practice using English for writing emails, instant messages and in chats, in a safe, learner-friendly environment.
  • You can get to know authentic websites on the Internet that are selected according to level and interest especially for you.
  • You can take part in enrichment activities and multi-user games that reinforce vocabulary, knowledge of idiomatic language, etc.

The content and features on the Community site are regularly updated.

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Is English Discoveries Online compatible with standard EFL examinations?
English Discoveries Online is compatible with most standard EFL examinations in terms of the text and task types that it offers the student.

Click here to see correlations between English Discoveries Online and the most common EFL examinations.

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English Discoveries Online - Overview of Levels

Below is a description of the objectives, text types and content according to the three main course levels in English Discoveries Online.

Basic

In the Basic levels learners access and make use of oral and written information needed for daily communication through a variety of media and text types. Learners are exposed to and take part in oral interactions on familiar topics in everyday situations. Oral and written texts in each Basic level course contain simple vocabulary and basic syntactic structures relevant to that level and text type.

Section

Description

Topics

Objectives

Reading

Learners access written information through the following text types:

  • Postcards (50-100 words)
  • Advertisements (50-100 words)
  • Stories (200-250 words)
  • Articles (200- 250 words)

The texts are simple and are on topics close to the learners' own lives and environment, ranging from family, food, shopping, to travel, sports, etc.

Learners understand the main ideas and supporting details in texts, draw inferences from simple information, understand factual information and use the information in the texts to fill in reports, sort items according to categories, order events in the correct sequence, and answer questions.

Listening

Learners access oral information through the following media:

  • Radio programs
  • Voice mail
  • TV programs

The short passages are simple and deal with topics such as music, ordering food, ads, sports, asking for and giving information and directions, interviews, restaurant reviews, etc.

Learners access information such as the general meaning and significant details in a passage, understand main ideas and supporting details and draw inferences. They use the information to answer questions, and complete ads, forms, scripts and letters.

Speaking

Learners are exposed to oral interactions in familiar situations such as: street, hotel, restaurant, office, railway station, party, airport and department store.

The simple short dialogues are about everyday topics such as ordering food, transportation, phone calls, clothes, and making plans for the day.

Learners practice speech functions such as asking for and providing information, expressing opinions, making up your mind, ordering food, making appointments, saying goodbye, etc.

Grammar

Learners receive explanations of and practice in simple grammatical topics and structures relevant to their level.

The structures are practiced in short sentences and dialogues on everyday topics.

Learners learn structures and tenses such as: the verb "Be," present simple, present and past progressive, future, adverbs, gerunds, nouns, articles, past simple, imperatives, modals, etc.They practice using them in multiple choice, cloze and fill in the gap exercises.

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Intermediate

In the Intermediate level courses learners access and make use of oral and written information needed for fluent communication through a variety of media and text types on a wider range of topics. Learners are exposed to and take part in oral interactions on less familiar topics in a range of situations. Oral and written texts in each of the Intermediate courses contain richer vocabulary and more complex syntactic structures relevant to the level and text type.

Section

Description

Topics

Objectives

Reading

Learners access written information through the following text types:

  • Directions, instructions and notices (80-150 words)
  • Stories (250-300 words)
  • Articles (250- 300 words)

The texts are longer, written in more complex language, using richer vocabulary, and contain inferential information. They deal with less familiar topics such as: education, festivals and holidays, buying and selling, instructions and directions, current trends, etc.

Learners understand main ideas and supporting details in texts, draw inferences, identify points of view, apply knowledge of discourse markers to obtain information and understand logical relationships in texts. They use the information to fill in reports, complete letters, email messages and summaries, follow instructions, and answer questions, etc.

Listening

Learners access oral information through the following media:

  • Radio programs
  • Voice mail
  • TV programs

The passages are longer and contain richer vocabulary and more complex language and contain implicit information. They deal with less familiar topics such as describing problems, celebrity and job interviews, festivals and celebrations, weather reports, quizzes, election results, etc.

Learners understand main ideas and supporting details, understand implicit and explicit information, draw inferences, identify and understand points of view, and apply knowledge of discourse markers to obtain information and understand logical relationships from oral texts. They use the information to fill in reports, complete letters, and summaries, follow instructions, and answer questions, etc.

Speaking

Learners are exposed to oral interactions in familiar and less familiar situations such as: post office, mall, school, barbecue, street, gym, office, and restaurant.

The longer dialogues are about a range of topics: exams, being late, making plans for the day, art shows, sending a parcel, buying and selling, etc.

Learners practice more advanced speech functions such as: expressing uncertainty, apologizing, expressing hope, issuing/declining invitations, give a warning, etc.

Grammar

Learners receive explanations of and practice in more complex grammatical topics and structures relevant to their level.

The structures are practiced in longer sentences and dialogues on a range of topics.

Learners learn structures and tenses such as: present prefect, passive voice, relative clauses, reported speech, conditionals, past perfect, past from of modals, etc. They practice using them in multiple choice, cloze and fill in the gap exercises.

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Advanced

In the Advanced level courses learners access and make use of more in-depth oral and written information needed for effective communication through a variety of media and text types. Learners are exposed to and take part in oral interactions on less familiar, more abstract topics in a wide range of situations. Oral and written texts in each of the Advanced courses contain rich vocabulary and complex syntactic structures relevant to the level and text type.

Section

Description

Topics

Objectives

Reading

Learners access written information through the following text types:

  • Letters (200-300 words)
  • Stories (300-350 words)
  • Articles (300- 350 words)

The texts are longer, written in more complex language, using rich vocabulary, and contain more inferential information. They deal with more abstract topics such as: cultural differences, alternative vs. conventional medicine, letters of request, complaint, etc., bilingualism, working a home, etc.

Learners understand main ideas and supporting details in texts, draw inferences, understand idiomatic expressions, identify points of view and writer's attitude, apply knowledge of discourse markers to obtain information and understand logical relationships in texts. They use the information in the texts to fill in newspaper reports, notes, complete letters of reply and summaries, and answer questions.

Listening

Learners access oral information through the following media:

  • Radio programs
  • Voice mail
  • TV programs

The passages are longer and contain rich vocabulary and complex language with more implicit information. They deal with a wide range of topics and situations: crime, travelogues, missing persons, in-depth interviews, banking services, instructions, and unemployment.

Learners understand main ideas and supporting details, understand implicit and explicit information and idiomatic language, draw inferences from visual information, infer and understand points of view, and apply knowledge of discourse markers to obtain information and understand logical relationships. They use the information to fill in reports, complete letters, and summaries, follow instructions, and answer questions, etc.

Speaking

Learners are exposed to oral interactions in less familiar and familiar situations such as: dress shop, office, emergency room, cruise ship, house, department store, street, high school, group therapy session, and diner.

The longer dialogues use complex language and rich vocabulary to talk about a range of more abstract topics: being bored, describing injuries, marketing, problems at work, descriptions, and relationships.

Learners practice advanced speech functions such as complaining, offering sympathy, expressing an opinion, giving advice, disagreeing, expressing worry, asking for a favor, interrupting, insisting, etc.

Grammar

Learners receive explanations of and practice in complex grammatical topics and structures relevant to their level.

The structures are practiced in longer sentences and dialogues on a range of topics.

Learners learn and consolidate knowledge of structures and tenses such as: future perfect and progressive, clauses of result, phrasal verbs, participles, logical connectors, common errors, subjunctive, and negation.

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Correlations

Examination Correlations With English Discoveries Online*

English Discoveries Online

ALTE

Council of Europe

UCLES

IELTS

TOEFL

TOEIC

Basic 1

Level 1

A2

KET

3.0

400/97

150

Basic 2

Level 1-2

A2-B1

KET/PET

3.5-4.0

450/133

350

Basic 3

Level 2

B1

PET

4.5

477/153

500

Intermediate 1

Level 3

B2

FCE

5.0

500/173

625

Intermediate 2

Level 3

B2

FCE

5.25

513/183

700

Intermediate 3

Level 3

B2

FCE

5.5

527/197

750

Advanced 1

Level 4

C1

CAE

6

550/213

800

Advanced 2

Level 4

C1

CAE

6.25

563/223

825

Advanced 3

Level 4

C1

CAE

6.5

577/233

850

* Based on information from "Using English for Academic Purposes - a Guide for International Students", Andy Gillett, Department of Inter-Faculty Studies, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK. (2002)

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Distributor in Poland:
LEXIS - College of Foreign Languages


00-545 Warsaw, Marszałkowska 60, tel. ,fax. (+48 22) 625 53 86, tel. 625 72 98, 622 25 23
www.lexis.edu.pl  lexis@lexis.edu.pl

 

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