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Guidelines for Experimentation with Transitional
English by Volunteer, Experienced Instructors of English |
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Those instructors of English for speakers of Spanish who volunteer
to experiment with this revolutionary approach to teaching the language
may find help in the following guidelines. |
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These guidelines suggest ways in which valid experimentation in the
classroom situation can take place. Reports via e-mail: lihani.prof@prodigy.net,
or: globlec@pop.uky.edu of such experimentation will be appreciated by
the Global English Research Project Committee. |
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FIRST SEMESTER
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Experimental classes for valid results may be established as suggested
in the steps below. |
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1) Two classes of 7 to 12 students (each with equal number) need to
be taught by the same instructor. Experimental class uses text printed
from the Transitional English web site: http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Globlec,
while the control (traditional) class uses the texts for beginners used
customarily by the instructor at his/her institution. |
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2) Prior to enrollment create a list of all students who will enroll
in English language courses. |
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3) Prior to the random assignment to classes, all students without
previous English knowledge are to take a pretest of English proficiency
to verify chances of obtaining correct answers without having studied English
at all. |
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4) Students are assigned classes at random. A throw of a die for each
student on the list determines whether a student goes into an experimental
or into a control class (odd numbers to experimental class, even numbers
to traditional class), until both classes have equal number of students
(between 7 and 12). |
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5) The same test, or a "parallel" test, is to be administered on the
last day of class to measure the English proficiency in both the experimental
and control (traditional) classes. |
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6) Compare the performance of Transitional English to traditional
English approach either through averages, or "means." |
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7) Please send results to the Global English Research Project Committee
by e-mail to: lihani.prof@prodigy.net, or to: globlec@pop.uky.edu. |
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SECOND SEMESTER
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1) Same instructor, as for the first semester, keeps both classes separate
for the second semester, but this time, both classes use the instructor's
usual approach, and the same usual texts for the second semester. |
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2) Parallel weekly quizzes and the same second semester final examination
are administered to both classes to test their English proficiency. It
is presumed that at the start of the Second Semester proficiency
in the formal and standard grammar will be superior in the traditionally
taught class, but by the end of the Second Semester the situation
can change drastically. |
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3) Compare test results of both classes to determine whether a) experimental
class reaches greater proficiency, or b) the traditional class does, or
c) whether both classes reach equal proficiency at the end of the two semesters
in comprehension and expression--both spoken and written. |
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4) Results, criticisms, and suggestions for improvement can be sent
by e-mail to: lihani.prof@prodigy.net, or to: globlec@pop.uky.edu. Many
thanks. |
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[The preceding guidelines were prepared in consultation with Dr. Edward
Kifer, of the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation,
College of Education, University of Kentucky.] |