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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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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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