SECTION # 1: ALPHAROUTE

COMMUNICATIONS

Two feedback forms were returned by the same researcher. One search was considered successful; the other, unsuccessful.

Level(s): LBS Levels 3, 4 and 5 focusing on grammar, reading, speaking, vocabulary, and writing. In total, 199 Communications activities were reviewed.

What worked:

• Several activities seem appropriate for individuals in Level 3.
• Researcher is impressed with the writing activities – most could be used for Levels 3 to 5 with some adaptation. There is a lot of marking for instructors, but many of the assignments are detailed and may be a good supplement for current writing activities. In some cases the order of the activities is erroneous, e.g., “Types of Paragraphs,” “Two Paragraph Composition,” and “The Summary” should come before “The Five-Paragraph Essay.”
• In general, the instructions for each activity were fairly good and were available in spoken and written English.
• The researcher definitely plans to assign some of these activities to my students.

What was missing, didn’t work or could work better:

• Not many activities were available for Level 4 and 5 students.
• The number of activities in the grammar section is limited. The activities in level one are too remedial. They provide limited practice. As a result, the activities may be used for review, but they could rarely be used to deliver a concept. As well, students would often have to wait for feedback.
• Some of these activities relate to grammar and should be moved to that section, e.g., “Recognizing Subjects” and “Recognizing Verbs” would be more appropriate in the grammar section.
• The speaking activities are minimal.
• The vocabulary activities could be expanded – the word list activities need work.
• Students may not respond well to activities that ask them to use their “Word List.” These activities may also be difficult to mark.