John B. Kirk
AOK Workshops
Quito, Ecuador
johnbkirk49@protonmail.com
Web: http://aokefle-learning.com
6/4/18
A Call for an Independent Language
Learning (ILL) English Website for the Public
for all Age Groups
Preface
While this article pertains to a call for an Independent Language Learning (ILL) website, a related AOK article on this site calls for free, framework TESOL textbook series for different age groups to be available for UN countries. Both articles have been sent to UNESCO and the World Bank.
Introduction
With present day advances in computer technology such as the freely available Google translator that can translate over 100 languages as well as provide pronunciation for the words and sentences, the possibilities for an ILL English website have dramatically increased. It could significantly help many of the estimated 1.5 billion people (TESOL 2014) who are currently studying English, and the cost would be nominal. (Please see below about the ‘ILL website’ AOK has assembled – it has materials that are noncommercial and for individual use and uses introductory, free workshops to introduce it.)
With the availability of relatively inexpensive computers, smart phones, quality language instruction, good texts and moderately sized classes, we can see a growing disparity in foreign language progress between the have and the have not countries and their states and provinces. The teaching of autonomous language learning through the English Language Portfolio (ELP) and Linguafolio in the European and N. American public schools is making its mark.
The Need for an ILL Website
There is a lot of good TESOL instruction on the Internet that’s available to those who search knowing what they what they’re looking for, but how many of the 1.5 billion English learners fall into this category? Also, an untrained person may study with several English language learning websites not knowing that there may be a number more that could better fulfill his/her needs. An ILL website with good organization and a question/answer facililatator could possibly prevent this from happening. The following are two examples of why a public site is necessary.
First, since 2001 in Europe the official way to teach languages has been the ELP. It’s present in most of the European K-12 schools, and its primary goal is to create independent language learners. About ten states in the US have also adopted this approach where it’s called Linguafolio.
Following this methodology, the learners are taught how to self-diagnose their learning needs and choose the study materials to meet them. Student information describing how to study with the ELP and Linguafolio at the secondary level has been available on the Internet but not easy to locate unless you know of its presence.
Second, the ELP learning approach also extends to the university and adult education levels. It’s possible to find university language websites which are written for their students but not closed to the public.
Here students find information on how to build a learning team, how to self-diagnose their language objectives with the CEFR language curriculum, how to learn to use the study skills that are personally successful for them, and how to choose the learning exercises that align with them. Much of this material comes with short, specific classes that the universities offer that aren’t accessible to the public.
For this reason, the public needs to have an ILL website dedicated to different age and ability groups in one location where they can freely study, ask written questions, and receive well explained, written answers or answers on video. They should not feel like they’re intruders.
Proposal
By organizing, indexing and explaining on video appropriate TESOL materials that are designed for noncommercial, individual use, a good ILL website could lead millions of people through a process similar to doing directed independent language learning under the guidance of a university.
Many people without professional direction are currently using a very inefficient system by assembling materials to study without a directed learning system – especially those in developing and third world countries who know very little about language learning.
For those who can create their own ELP learning team but aren’t able to attend courses, an ILL website can fulfill many of the roles of a foreign language teacher. This is why AOK is trying to encourage a large, nonprofit organization to make such a website available. It could make a difference for those without many learning resources, the information is free, and the price per potential student is negligible.
The Unusual Step AOK is Taking to help Create an ILL Website
First, it’s contacting foundations, NGO’s and IGO’s to request that a website be made available and to explain why. Second, it’s submitting journal articles to foreign language educational associations. And third, it has created an ‘ostensible version’ of what an ILL website might look like and offers free workshops for parents/families, students, and company persons at different levels in Quito to teach them how to use it.
The AOK ‘website’ includes two archives totaling over 250 free English language learning websites, one for children and one for adults. The archives share the titles of 10 units, which include the basic skills, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, study skills, teaching suggestions for parents and siblings, lists of free Internet courses, and more.
In total the three workshops have over 50 handouts with a bibliography to expand on what’s taught in the workshops. The workshops include strategies for using the Internet to improve your English, as well as various levels of explanation of the European Language Portfolio (ELP) learning approach.
After the workshop the participants are given voluntary and anonymous evaluations through their workshop leader where they can also express their opinion about the need for an ILL website and locating important information in one site; AOK collects and copies them to present to the above groups as an incentive to provide a ‘public’ ILL website for everyone. (Please see the section on this AOK website http://aokefle-learning.com home page entitled ‘ILL Workshops’ to learn more about the three possibilities.)