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Instant English uses icon sentences.
The only text is the word under the input box. Tense is represented
by changing the color the background or reversing it. A grammar
tag shows when the mouse is passed over an icon. A floating window
shows animated lips that pronounce the word when
the mouse is clicked on any icon. Text prompts can be enabled or disabled by clicking on the shop lamp
toggle button on the task bar. Use them disabled
(hidden) to work on pronunication, or spelling. (Students will not
be able to see the text and will have to concentrate on the sound.)
Use them enabled (showing) for non-readers, or to practice the keyboard.
Use
the all caps button for absolute beginniners who can't match the
keyboard to lower case.
Every icon has built in text-to-speech that is active when
the icon is clicked.When the typing button is clicked (next to the sentence),
text-to-speech dictates the first word. As soon as the space bar is
clicked, the program dictates the next word, and so on.When the listen button is clicked (next to the icon row),
a recorded voice speaks the whole sentence.
Comprehension, listening, grammar, spelling,
and keyboarding all happen at the same time. Each component
is under the pace and control of the student. Speech sounds
can be clicked over and over, helping the student memorize vocabulary. |
Create new Instant English lessons
with Instant Author. Authoring components permit easy assembly of a new lesson.
Create new icon words with Instant
Dictionary. The dictionary is the database used by Instant Author
to make lessons.
Create new
icons with Paint (Under accessories in Windows) or
another graphic editor. Photos can be pasted on the start menu so students can find an
assigned lesson by looking for their teacher's face. Photos of students
or public figures can be imported into the dictionary so they can
be used in a lesson.
Resize photos to 54 pixels high.
Save as bitmaps. Import them into the Dictionary. Use the icon collection
to make dictionaries, games, cards, tiles and other materials.
Text-to-speech sound is present by default and is accompanied by an animated
lip synch; However, any speech or music file can be pasted
on the sentence so teachers can use songs, poetry, and clips from
the internet.
Workbooks
in Word format are included on the CD. They are in half-page format.
After printing, cut them in half. Use the workbooks for homework assignments,
tests, and drills. |
