International Teaching Assistant Program

Lab Resources

The Language Learning Laboratory & Resource Center is an expansive, robust instructional media center, one of the best such equipped centers on campus. It is also home to the largest student audio learning system of its type in the world. All ITAP Workshop participants may use the Language Laboratory, and are encouraged to explore all of its resources.

The information below is just a sampling of the many materials available. The facility is located on the basement level of the Foreign Languages Building, Room 019. See also the Additional Training Resources page in the ITAP site for more information.

Language Software

Dyned Interactive Business English consists of six CDs ranging from upper basic to the intermediate level. Each disc contains six sections based on business specific, though not business exclusive, language which includes the following: Presentation, listening comprehension; Question Practice, question formation from word groups; Dictations, listening followed by fill-in-the-blank dictation sentences; Quantitative English, business related math; Verb Grid, grammatical structures (i.e. modal, V(d) modal, have+V(n), be+V(n)); Grammar Fill-Ins, sentence fill-in-the-blank. It has the option of viewing the spoken text (or not) and the ability to record and playback one's voice.

Tutor Tapes is a DOS-based program involving grammar lessons with examples and tests in a multiple-choice format. Points covered include: articles, prepositional and infinitive phrases, participial and gerund phrases, and prepositions.

Longman Interactive American Dictionary features: Dictionary, with spoken pronunciation and definition; Grammar, grammar explanations; Common Errors, usage errors; Verbs, tenses; Pictures, to illustrate words; Video, select movie clips; Exercises, grammar, word usage, and also the incorporation of the videos. It has a useful search feature for finding words anywhere within dictionary entries and the ability to record and playback one's voice.

Grammar Mastery2 is a DOS-based, intermediate level program which allows students to work through lessons, practice, and tests in: the past perfect, past modals, the passive, noun clauses, conditional sentences, and infinitives and gerunds. It uses a typed answer format, as opposed to multiple-choice.

Ellis Master Pronunciation utilizes the combination of video, audio, and even native speaker explanations to help students master problematic discrete sounds. It is comprised of: Pronunciation, to practice all the sounds of English; Minimal Pairs, to practice differentiating difficult sounds; Speech acts, moves beyond word level to sentence level; Tongue Twisters, a fun and challenging practice of hard-to-say phrases; Master Tutor, for detailed expert linguistic help (in English or one's native language) to pronounce the sounds of English. The excellent voice recording feature allows one to record, playback, and compare one's sounds, words, phrases, and sentences with those of the native speaker.

Let's Talk English is targeted for the most basic levels of English language learning, as the program's interface is completely in a foreign language (no English support). The languages supported include: Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. It consists mostly of simple vocabulary with direct translations and games. It also has a voice record and playback feature.

Learn to Speak English(and English Pronunciation Guide) offers two programs, a pronunciation guide similar to Ellis (see above) but limited in function and the main program, embodying 30 functional/situational chapters which include such real life language tasks as: asking directions, an invitation to dinner, at the doctor's office, shopping at the mall, using the telephone, and many more. Cultural movies also add to the multi-media experience. Each chapter/lesson involves several activities, exercises, and games based on multi-media storylines and action sequences containing situational dialogs. It also offers a voice record and playback feature.

GAMES

Logical Journey of the Zoombinis is a math related game of logic made up of 12 sets of puzzles which challenge the analytical mind and the discerning ear, as listening comprehension plays an important role in being able to successfully aid the Zoombinis in the journey to their new home. Suitable for any language ability level.

Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego? leads the student detective on case after case of crime solving across the 50 states. A knowledge of U.S. geography is not necessary to play this game, but listening and reading comprehension skills definitely are. Suitable for advanced basic and up.

STUDY SOFTWARE

While this software was not specifically designed as language software, its course-specific vocabulary is beneficial to language learners and international teaching assistants alike.

Cliffs Studyware is text-based help for trigonometry, biology, geometry, chemistry, physics, algebra, and calculus.

Claris Bodyworks 4.0 offers a multi-media presentation of anatomy along with lessons and tests.

*The above table provides an at-a-glance summary of the various skill levels and some of the main features of the language software. The stars denote the presence of the indicated skill level or feature only and, in the case of the skill areas, do not indicate to what extent a particular area is addressed.

OTHER MEDIA

• Course-specific audio tapes available for international teaching assistants in the following areas: Algebra, Biology, Botany, Calculus, Chemistry, Computers, Computer Science, Economics, Finance, Food & Nutrition, French, Geology, Geometry, ISQS, Japanese, Microbiology, Physical Geology, Physics, Political Science, Racquetball, Range & Wildlife Management, RHIM, Spanish, Second Language, Trigonometry, Zoology.

• The Standard Deviants: Video Course Review includes videos in the following areas: Basic Math, Biology, Chemistry, Finance, Macroeconomics, Physics, Pre-Calculus, Statistics.

• Feynman's Lost Lecture: The Motion of the Planets Around the Sun (book and CD set)

• Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher (Richard P. Feynman, book and 6 CD set)

• Biology-On-Tape, Denson K. McLain, Ph.D., includes: Genetics, Diversity, and the Biosphere and Understanding the Cell

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