Open Book Tests

Did you ever use an open book test in an ESL classroom? How did it go? Did the students find it easier or more difficult than a traditional test? Pierre had some thoughts about the benefits of open book tests and he put them on paper to share with everyone. Have a look!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24494172/Open-Book-Tests

Principal vs. Student

Merry Christmas everybody.

Have a look at this sweet wee worksheet. It goes nicely with First Questions and is a roleplay interview. Get your students in pairs, with one being the principal and one the student. The principal must interview the student and decide if the student is good enough for their school! Fun and silliness should abound!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24494159/Be-the-Principal-1

Current Stockists

Hey folks! We are getting a few requests from people asking where exactly our products are available in Taiwan. So, here is a comprehensive list of all the outlets that stock our current line up. Happy shopping!

Eslite Stores
http://www.eslite.com/
• Taipei Shin Yi 台北信義
• Dun Hua 台北敦化
• Tai Da 台北台大
• Hsinchu SOGO 新竹 SOGO
• Tainan Store 台南總店
• Kaohshiung Shin Shi Chi 高雄新世紀
• Kaohshiung Dream Mall 高雄夢時代
• Taichung Yuen Daol 台中圓道
• Chong Li Da Chiang 中壢大江

Caves Bookstores
中山營業所 Chung Shan Branch 台北市中山北路3段54-3號
T 02-25991169 F 02-25997679
No. 54-3, Sec. 3, Chung Shan N. Rd., 104 Taipei Taiwan R. O. C.

天母營業所 Tien Mou Branch 台北市天玉街38巷5號
T 02-28742199 F 02-28740075
No. 5, Lane 38, Tian Yu St., Shih-Lin 111 Taipei Taiwan R. O. C.

板橋營業所 Ban Chiao. Branch 台北縣板橋市文化路一段268號5F-1
T 02-82520668 F 02-82520756
5F-1 No. 268 Sec. 1 Wen Hua Rd., Ban Chiao City, Taipei Taiwan R. O. C.

內湖營業所 Tai Tech. Branch 台北市提頂大道一段207號
T 02-87928621 F 02-87928625
No. 207 Sec. 1 Ti-Ding Ave., Nei-Hu Taipei Taiwan R. O. C.

花蓮營業所 Hua Lien Branch 花蓮市林森路319號
T 03-8345075 F 03-8330113
319 Linsen Rd., Hua Lien City 970 Taiwan R. O. C.

宜蘭營業所 Yi Lan Branch 宜蘭市宜中路133號
T 03-9323259 F 03-9357368
No.133 Yi Jong Rd., Yi Lan City 260 Taiwan R.O.C.

新竹營業所 Hsin Chu Branch 新竹市東大路二段1471F
T 03-5422698 F 03-5426263
1F, No. 147, Sec. 2 Dung Da Rd., Hsin Chu City 300 Taiwan R. O. C.

中港營業所 Chung Kang Branch 台中市館前路12號
T 04-23265559 F 04-23265550
No. 12 Guan Chian Rd., Shi Chiu 403 Taichung Taiwan R.O.C. T 04-22970590

彰化營業所 Chang Hua Branch 彰化市中正路二段362號
T 04-7008000 F 04-7009260
No. 362 Sec. 2, Chung Cheng Rd., Chang Hua 500 Taiwan R. O. C.

南區綜合營業部 Southern Taiwan Sales Department
嘉義營業所 Chia Yi Branch 嘉義市民權路28號
T 05-2785798 F 05-2785887
No. 28 Ming Chiuan Rd., Chia Yi City 600 Taiwan R. O. C.

台南營業所 Tainan Branch 台南市北門路一段159號
T 06-2296347 F 06-2296350
No. 159 Sec. 1, Bei Men Rd., Tainan City 700 Taiwan R. O. C.

高雄營業所 Kaohsiung Branch 高雄市五福四路76-78號
T 07-5615716 F 07-5318700
No. 76-78 Wu Fu 4th Rd., Yancheng Chiu 803 Kaohsiung Taiwan R. O. C.

屏東營業所 Ping Tung Branch 屏東市廣東路66號 T 08-7226077 F 08-7226055
No. 66 Kuang Dung Rd., 900 Pin Tung City Taiwan R. O. C.

電子商務部 On Line Customer Support Dept. 台中市館前路12號3F
T 04-23294155 F 04-23265550

http://www.cavesbooks.com.tw/

English OK
http://www.englishok.com.tw/

Page One
http://www.pageonegroup.com/
4F-1
No. 45 Shi-Fu Road 110
Taipei 101
Taipei
Taiwan
Tel: (886) 2 8101 8282
Fax: (886) 2 8101 8283

Intelang
Dzang Hwa
Section 1 No, 178 Da Tong Road
Tel. 04 8383927

Page One - In Taipei 101!

You're not really allowed to take pictures inside Page 101. But we did. We thought our products looked pretty cool in the world's tallest building so thought we should take a pic to show everyone.

ESL Superstars!

The ETA book show always brings out the superstars of ESL. Our neighboring booth was distributing Time magazine and Newsweek. On the other side we had Far Eastern. And then just opposite us we had Studio Classroom. Doris Brougham paid a visit on Saturday, as she was giving a workshop then, and we took the opportunity to snap some pics.



Mrs Brougham was very lovely and suggested I could call her if I ever had an teaching questions! You can even see the Interactile Learning booth in the background.

Speak Right Read Right - Short 'a' worksheet

A freebie guys! Try using this after you have taught the first 7 cards of Speak Right Read Right Kit One. The first seven cards are for the short 'a' sound and this worksheet is a good review as well as being very tactile. Have fun!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22704504/Phonics-Short-a-Worksheet

ETA Workshop

As part of this year's ETA event, Pierre had a workshop on the Friday afternoon that was attended by about 50 enthusiastic teachers. He used his hour to discuss review and why it is important and also talked a lot about having a very tactile class. One in which the students have lots of room to move and be active in their learning of English. Here are some shots of the workshop:

ETA 2009!

Last weekend Interactile Learning had its own booth at the ETA trade show in Taipei! It was awesome. We had a great time meeting lots of the cool teachers that are both interesting and interested in teaching English. If you missed it this year, make sure you are there next year.

Some happy customers checking our Speak Right Read Right and First Idioms.

That's Pierre demonstrating The Spelling Hive.

Leighton, Catherine and Ivy behind the booth getting very busy!

Here's Pierre with two happy customers with their fancy Interactile bags.

First Questions - Question Snap!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/21383615/Question-Snap

Here's a new handout to use alongside your First Questions program. Great fun!

The Spelling Hive - Book One!

The Spelling Hive is out! Not quite in bookstores just yet but should be soon. If anybody needs a copy, please let us know and we will make it happen!

The Spelling Hive is a six level program aimed at young learners aged 6 to 13. It equips students with a solid foundation for spelling and covers all the basic words they need to use for a strong start in writing and composition. It is the ideal preparation for young learner's proficiency tests.

The program follows a carefully thought out review system that ensures maximum retention of words covered by constantly re-testing previously memorized words, encouraging students to regularly self-review. Words build up into fun sentences to give context and meaning to the words taught. It is easy and fun to use.

Eslite Bookstores - Humanity, art, creativity and life.

Hey team!

Great news this week. Interactile is extremely proud to be working alongside Eslite Bookstores. As of this week, our full range of products will be available in nine of their stores nationwide. The list of stores where you can find our stuff is below.

Taipei Shin Yi 台北信義
Dun Hua 台北敦化
Tai Da 台北台大
Hsinchu SOGO 新竹 SOGO
Tainan Store 台南總店
Kaohshiung Shin Shi Chi 高雄新世紀
Kaohshiung Dream Mall 高雄夢時代
Taichung Yuen Daol 台中圓道
Chong Li Da Chiang 中壢大江



Eslite is the most well-known bookstore chain in Taiwan. They have been in operation since 1989 and now have 48 stores nationwide. And that includes Dun Hua which is now a 24 hour bookstore. Xinyi Store, their flagship store, now has 8000 square meters of floor space! That's the largest bookstore in Taiwan. Here's their website below:

http://www.eslite.com/

First Idioms - Animals

We have another free worksheet available for you too. We haven't done many worksheets to accompany First Idioms so today we begin to rectify that. This worksheet can be used after you finish teaching the intermediate level idioms. The theme is animals and this is a fun way to review all the animal related idioms taught in the beginner and advanced levels. It can also be used as a test. Here's the link below:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20558331/First-Idioms-Animals

Page 101

Interactile Learning is very proud to announce that our fine products are now available in the world's tallest building! This one below in fact:



Interactile's range of products are now available at Page One bookstore within the Taipei 101 complex. Check out their website below for details of how to get there. Or just start walking towards that really tall building in Taipei!

http://www.pageonegroup.com/index.html

First Questions - Celebrity Interview

Good Evening Teachers!

I hope this update finds you all well. For those of you in Hualien, how about this rain eh? I hope you didn't get caught riding a scooter home in it like I did.

The Interactile team want to thank you guys for your support of Speak Right Read Right. It has proven very popular and the feedback we have been getting from teachers has been great. So for that, thank you!

Below you will find a link to a new activity to accompany First Questions. It is a fun way to transfer the speaking skills your students have learned to writing skills. It will require, for most people, the use of the internet so, it is something that could be begun in class and then sent home to be finished there.

We'd also like to let you know, that Interactile Learning will have a booth at the English Teachers Associaion (ETA) book fair on November 13, 14, and 15. If any of you will be in Taipei for that weekend, be sure to pop by and check out the book fair. And us, we'll be at booth number C18, if you wanna come by for a cuppa.

Bye for now!

www.scribd.com/doc/19805626/Interview-a-CelebrityTeachers-Notes

Speak Right Read Right in action!

These shots are from our favorite little school in Hualien, The Hill English School. These beginner students have been using Speak Right Read Right for just on a week now and are getting used to the short 'a' sound. The vowel wheels have been great for this. The kids love hearing a sound and racing to try to find that sound within their own personal wheel. It's a very tactile approach to learning the vowel sounds.





Today we moved on to the 'af' sound on card two with some promising successes in speaking and reading. This class tackles phonics just once a week so we will spread Kit One out over two semesters. We'll keep you posted as to their progress!

Street Smarts

After extensive research we have found the best book to accompany our Street Smarts program!



The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is full of lots of great Street Smarts style slang and is a hilarious read.



This book coupled with Street Smarts would make a great slang program for any intermediate class.

You can pick up a copy today from our good friends at Caves bookstores.

www.cavesbooks.com.tw

The Spelling Hive

Hi guys,

Just a quick note with a teaser for the latest from Interactile. The first of our new spelling workbooks should be available in late October. Here is a shot from the cover of book one. Altogether we will have six workbooks.

We found a lot of spelling systems available but are lot are not review intensive for our liking. If words aren't used often, they will be forgotton. So, in The Spelling HIve, memorized words are regularly re-tested and re-practiced to keep them fresh and ready to use in sentences and compositions.

Thanks, as always, for all your support!

Pierre and Leighton

Speak Right Read Right - Our theory.

Phonics is one part of English that is difficult to review well. It is important for students to get in the habit of looking at the sounds and putting them together in order to read, rather than seeing only the first letters of words.
發音在英文中是很難作好複習的一部份，對學生來說要達到習慣看到音並把這些音組合起來讀是比較重要的，而不是只看單字的第一個字母來學發音。

It is important for students to start at the right place. Interactile’s phonics program is designed to practice speaking and reading. So that should be the focus of your phonics class, rather than having students write many pages of letter combinations.
從正確的地方開始學習對學生非常重要，多角度教育英文出版社的發音課程設計目地在練習說話和朗讀,因此專注在發音課程上，而不是只讓學生一直去寫數頁的文字組合。

Words are full of patterns. Once these patterns are fixed in our brain, we can read fast, accurately and fluently with very little strain or effort.
The brain is so amazing and we still do not understand a lot about it. Patterns can be remembered easily with good quality review.
文字飽含著固定的模式，這些模式一旦固定在我們的腦中，我們就能夠即精準且流暢地輕鬆閱讀。

At the same time the patterns and the speed at which we go through them and the amount of words we can cover, engraves paths in our brains and coaches our tongues which makes right speaking and right reading possible.
我們經過這種文字模式的學習，配合著快速唸出單字及從中所涉及的單字量，這會使大腦將不加思索運用並且訓練好舌頭發音,這就是造就我們說得好讀得好的方法。

For Teachers.
給老師的話
1. Start by teaching the five vowels. Teach only the short sounds. They are the only sounds that can truly be pronounced in isolation. ‘a’ as in ant ‘e’ as in egg ‘i' as in it ‘o’ as in on, ‘u’ as in up.
首先從五個母音開始教學，先只用短(單)音節的發音來教，這些音是真正可以獨立發出音的，例如：‘a’之於ant；‘e’ 之於egg；‘i'之於it；‘o’ 之於on ‘u’ 之於up 。

2. Next just use ‘n’ at the back of each vowel, so don’t teach ‘n’ in isolation teach an en in on un
接著利用子音‘n’跟隨於每一個母音後來練發音，所以不能單獨教子音‘n’的發音，要直接發出an， en， in， on ，un，一起的音。

3. Now they are ready to work with a vowel wheel. Don’t let them pronounce the consonants in isolation as English consonant sounds are not ever used in isolation. Learn the appropriate ones with ‘a’ on the vowel wheel.
現在準備好用轉盤作練習，不要讓學生單獨發出子音聲因為在英文中從來沒有利用子音來做單獨的發音，用轉盤上的母音‘a’來學習合適的發音。

4. When they are familiar with one vowel wheel, move on to the next one and the next until they are comfortable with all the ending sounds.
當學生熟悉了一個母音轉盤，就繼續往下練習另一個轉盤直到他們能夠十分自在的發出全部的尾音。

5. At this point they are ready to move on to level one. Speak Right Read Right uses only real words from here on so the students will always be learning in a useable context.
下一重點就是開始利用第一個程度的卡片了，Speak Right Read Right教材在卡片上的單字都是真實可用的單字，因此學生會在一個上下文有關聯性的文章中學習。

6. From this point on the program almost teaches for you. Just remember to regularly go back to review from the first card until all the students have the patterns well set in their brains for life!!
順著以上的步驟即自動導入教學課程無須費心思量如何去教，只要記得有規律的從第一張卡片複習直到所有的學生把文字發音的模式固定在腦海中。

7. Make sure your class is capable of reading the words on the front of the card individually before giving them the challenge of reading the sentence on the back.
在讓學生挑戰卡片後面的句子前，要先確認你的學生有能力自己可以正確的讀出前面的單字。

8. The build-up review sentences on the back will make it very easy for you to review previously taught phonetic sounds. These sentences will give instant confidence as students can see their progress. Be sure to go back to these on a regular basis for review.
卡片反面用來複習所組合的句子可以很容易的幫助教師複習以前教過的發音，這些句子會讓學生看到自己的進步時立即產生了信心，別忘了要常利用這樣來複習。

9. You will see that the color of the wheels correspond to the color of the related cards. So you can review the yellow wheel before teaching the yellow cards, and so on.
你將看到轉盤上的顏色和與它有關的卡片顏色是相符的，所以教黃色卡片前要先複習黃色輪盤，其他依此類推。

10. The pictures help students to understand the sentences and feel successful at reading. The buildup stories ensure true reading and not just memorizing of pictures.
圖片幫助學生瞭解句子的意思並在閱讀上感到有所成就，卡片下方由單字所重組的故事則用來確認真的會讀單字不是靠背圖片而記下它。

11. Also remember the little pictures for silent letters, differently pronounced words, and words to be careful for because they are spelt differently.
請記得在卡片上另有標示無聲字母的小圖片、不規則發音的單字小圖片、以及特別拼音的單字小圖片。

12. Speaking and Reading has never been so fast so easy!
說和讀從未如此像這樣快速、簡單易學！！

Auxiliary Verbs

Now these little verbs have always been troublesome for learners of English. So we worked out a way that it could be fun and tactile to practice. Download this worksheet and try this with your students.

This worksheet should be used after level 3 of First Questions. Good luck!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/18690434/Auxiliary-Verbs

Speak Right Read Right - Available Now!

Hey team!

Speak Right Read Right - Kit One is now available. Interactile Learning is proud to present the first of three systems for teaching reading and phonics. Speak Right Read Right is available in Teacher Cards and Student Cards.

Kit One comes with five vowel wheels, one each for a, e, i, o, and u. These rotating wheels help students form the vowel sounds in combination with the consonants

Speak Right Read Right - Everything in context, nothing in isolation.

First Questions - Third Person Review Worksheet

Hi Teachers!

I hope you guys are all enjoying the summer and not working too hard! Here is the latest freebie from Interactile.

This worksheet is helpful for reviewing verbs in the third person. It's separated into three pages, two for students, and one containing some teacher's notes.

Thanks for all your support!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/17374448/Third-Person-Review-Third-Person-Review1

Speak Right Read Right - Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak at the latest product from Interactile Learning. Speak Right Read Right will be in stores by the end of July. Kit One, comprising Level One and Level Two, will be available in student cards and teacher cards. Kit One covers short vowels and final blends. Contact Leighton on 0919 250 220 or Pierre on 0932 310 394 for ordering information.

Interactile Phonics!

The latest product from Interactile Learning should be on the market by late July! Level 1 of the new phonics program will help learners work through short vowels and final consonant blends in a fun, lively and colorful way. Each card will introduce up to three new sounds with an accompanying picture. There are also helpful review sentences to recap recently taught phonics sounds. Get in contact today to pre-order your copy of Level 1.

First Questions - Question Race

Here is the latest in a line of free materials to accompany Interactile Learning's materials. This worksheet is for use with First Questions.

Question Race Teachers Notes
Our free handout today is for use with level 1 through 3 of First Questions. It is pretty self-explanatory but here are a couple of suggestions for how to use it.

For Big Classes:
If you are teaching a big class that sits in rows, give a copy of the Question Race to the first student in each row. Allow about a minute or two for each question word. The first student will write a question, then hand it to the student behind, who must answer it and then hand it back to the third student for a new, different question. When it gets to the end of the row, the last student will run it back to the front and the first student continues.

For Smaller Classes:
If you have a smaller group, you could have them sit in a circle and pass the paper around.

For Different Levels:
When teaching classes with mixed levels, be sure to mix them up so different teams have some more advanced students and some beginners. Don't worry too much if the advanced students want to come to the aid of the beginners!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/15819099/Question-Race

Enjoy!

First Idioms Intermediate Test

Here is the latest on our series of free test papers and worksheets to accompany the First Idioms program. This test paper covers the intermediate level idioms from 1 to 50.

http://documents.scribd.com/docs/riz03kqibrq1pln6u2g.pdf

Caves Books

The entire range of Interactile Learning's products are now available at Caves Books nationwide.

http://www.cavesbooks.com.tw/

Check out this link to find a Caves bookstore near you!

First Idioms Intermediate Body Idioms

Here is a fun way to review all the body part idioms that are seen in the First Idioms intermediate level. It could be used as a test or a challenging worksheet.

http://documents.scribd.com/docs/1wrnggm7x40n6as8rztf.pdf

First Idioms - Intermediate Test

The next test paper is now available for free download from the following site. This test will cover all intermediate idioms from 1 - 25. Enjoy.

http://documents.scribd.com/docs/2klijxmz7j0m44aqf894.pdf

Street Smarts Available Now!

The third installment of Interactile Learning's fun card based learning systems is now available! Contact Leighton on 0919 250 220 or Pierre on 0932310394.

Otherwise, Street Smarts will be available at the following stores from Monday March 23rd.

Ing Bing Shi - Po Ai Street, Hualien
Chong Lin - Jung Jen Road, Hualien
Country Mothers - Fu Chien Road, Hualien

And will be available soon after in most Caves bookstores throughout Taiwan.

First Idioms Tests

Hi folks. For teachers and students using our First Idioms program, here are two free tests for the basic level. Keep checking back in the future for more free handouts and tests as they become available.

Test 1 - 25:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13349330/First-Idioms-Test-1-25

Test 1 - 50:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13349334/First-Idioms-Test-1-50

Post this!

If anyone needs a copy of this swell looking poster for their classroom, cram school, bookstore or bedroom, please let me know as soon as possible!

The Hill English School

These photos come from The Hill English School in Hualien. This intermediate level class of elementary school students uses First Idioms as part of their curriculum. The kids are expected to learn ten idioms a week, with a test on Fridays. They learn a few a day in their daily class.

The class is also running a semester look idiom usage competition. The kids are awarded a point every time they manage to use an idiom from First Idioms in context. That could be while speaking, in their composition work, sentence work, or anywhere else they teacher sees the students using them.

Current Product List

Interactile Learning currently has two products available in stores. Our first product is First Questions - The kit for elementary conversational fluency. First Idioms was released in December of 2008. It's a great system for learning everyday, useful idioms. March 2009 will see the much anticipated release of Street Smarts - The English Slang kit for dudes, babes, homeboys and foxes (not suitable for dorks, losers, princesses or yuppies.




























Keep logging on to the Interactile Learning blog to find out what other exciting products are onthe horizon. This year will also see the release of:
The Interactile Sight Word Train
Interactile's Grammar School Boards
The Spelling Master
Speedy Phonics
Interactile Class Labels
and
Interactile's Flashcard System

Tzu Chi Junior High School

Here are some pictures of two classes from Tzu Chi Junior High School in Taiwan. The students here use First Questions in their English conversation class which they attend once a week. Each student has their own set, which allows lots of games and activities.


In each class the students learn ten questions and answers. So the class starts with a little bit of rote learning (not too much) until the students are familiar with the intonation and pronunciation of each question and answer. Then they split off into closed pairs to practice with a classmate, which allows the teacher to wonder around and listen and correct any problems.


Once everybody is familiar with the ten questions of the day and how to answer them, it becomes a little more challenging. In this class, with the aid of a stopwatch, the teacher challenged the students to see who could answer the ten questions, asked by the teacher, in the shortest time. The fastest today was 17 seconds!


Then they were separated into two teams, girls and boys, and took turns about reading the lips of the teacher, who mouthed the questions. The students then had to race to the blackboard to write an appropriate answer. Points, of course, were taken away for spelling mistakes and missing words! The girls, not entirely unsurprisingly, won today.

Email address

Here is our email address if anyone has any questions about our products:

interactile@gmail.com