about the project ...for more information email:iconlang@core.com
about Instant English ESL links teachers' links	This project began on the chalkboard as a means of helping nonliterate adults learn English.
	The program was first developed for the Mac, and then for Windows 95 by programmer Dennis Startsev. It was supported by Truman College President Phoebe Helm.   The web site was designed and coded by Evelyn McHugh in close collaboration with Mary Beth.	The upgrade for Windows 98, ME, 2K and XP was programmed by Xun Ding and Leo Kong. Leo is working on a web version. It will look like the demo on this web site. The project is managed by Suzie Isaacs.
		There is a TUTOR for students and an AUTHOR and DICTIONARY for teachers. Behind the software is the idea of a teaching tool or editor. Students and teachers' photos can be inserted as well as sounds. Need an intro to the the user interface? Go to navigation.  For the concept, go to features. For information in depth, go to history.
	MaryBeth Guinan is an artist, and inventor and patent holder of the first icon language. In Instant English, every word is an icon, and every icon generates a spoken word. Teachers drag icons into new sentences, choosing from 50 dictionaries and 5,000 icons. Guinan believes illustrated speech can rewire damaged brains, revive disappearing languages, bring literature to the non-literate and generate a new form of visual poetry.  See inventor.