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Difference between revisions of "Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box"

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{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[Not captioned]|||true|middle|}}
  
  
 
== WIDGETS NEWS ==
 
== WIDGETS NEWS ==
  
[[File:New_videos.png|200px|thumb|right|link=http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos]]
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[[File:Eltons.jpg|400px|thumb|right|link=http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019]]
 
 
 
 
'''All Course Videos Now Available, Scripts Updated'''
 
 
 
[2019 02/25] Widgets course videos are now complete and available in two versions, captioned and uncaptioned. All videos can be viewed via streaming or downloaded from Vimeo. To download, follow the instructions at the bottom of each video. Note that some scripts have been slightly updated from the printed book.
 
 
 
[[File:fbgroup.jpg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc]]
 
 
 
 
 
'''Join the Widgets Inc. Facebook Users' Group'''
 
 
 
[2019 01/20] If you're on Facebook, take a look at the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc Widgets Inc. Users' Group]. We've set up this group for those who want to ask questions and share ideas related to the course. Note that it's a group specifically for teachers using (or thinking about) Widgets, so you'll need to tell us a little about yourself when you join.
 
 
 
[[File:Hokkaido.png|200px|thumb|right|link=https://jalt.org/events/hokkaido-chapter/19-01-26]]
 
 
 
 
 
'''Widgets co-author delivers keynote at Hokkaido JALT Conference'''
 
 
 
[2019 01/19] Marcos Benevides, Widgets co-author, delivered the keynote at the 2019 Hokkaido JALT Conference on January 26. His presentation was titled, "Why task-based learning for business communication". He also led a workshop on developing a themed task-based syllabus using a framework similar to the one used to create Widgets.
 
 
 
[[File:V1front.png|200px|thumb|right|link=Course Videos]]
 
 
 
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'''New videos and other updates'''
 
 
 
[2019 01/18] This week saw many improvements added to the Widgets Inc. teachers' wiki. Among the changes: all course videos are now available for streaming and download (captioned versions coming later this month), and a new syllabus template for 14 x 100-minute period courses. Also, the wiki is now fully functional as an editable wiki (login and admin approval is required).
 
 
 
[[File:DSCF2483.JPG|200px|thumb|right|link=Course Videos]]
 
 
 
 
 
'''Post-production continues on the final batch of Widgets course videos'''
 
 
 
[2019 01/09] Jack Henry, of Wide Island Films, has been working around the clock this holiday season to get the last videos ready. All videos have been recorded, and are now are in the final production stage. Please note that some of the currently available videos may be slightly re-edited as well. The estimated drop date is January 30. By the end of February, all videos will be finalized.
 
 
 
[[File:JALT2018.jpg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://jalt.org]]
 
 
 
  
'''Widgets Inc. launches at JALT 2018!'''
 
  
[2018 11/24] Co-authors Marcos and Chris mark the launch the new edition of Widgets by sponsoring renowned ELT author, teacher trainer, and consultant Lindsay Clandfield as a plenary speaker. Attendee response to the new edition was enthusiastic to say the least! Also in this photo is our good friend Dorothy Zemach, a huge Widgets fan since the first Pearson edition in 2008.
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'''Widgets Inc. a finalist for the 2019 British Council ELTons!'''
  
[[File:widgets-ebj.jpg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]
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[2019 04/05] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Widgets Inc. is a finalist for the 2019 British Council ELTon Award for Course Innovation! The ELTons are the very top international award in ELT publishing, sometimes referred to as "the Academy Awards of ELT"–and if so, ''Course Innovation'' is like the Best Picture category!
  
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Winners will be announced and livecast at a celebrity-filled ceremony in London on June 10th. Watch this space for more updates!
  
'''Widgets Inc. partners with englishbooks.jp'''
 
  
[2018 06/01] Widgets Inc. has partnered with [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php englishbooks.jp], a leading Japan-based distributor of English-language books. EBJ, who are already the exclusive distributors of Atama-ii Books's award-winning graded reader series, will also provide Japan-wide distribution of the Widgets Inc. student book.
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[[OLDER NEWS]]
  
  
== ABOUT WIDGETS ==
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== ABOUT ''WIDGETS INC.''==
Widgets is a business themed English communication course using a task-based approach to language learning. It is designed for classes of 12 to 40 young adult or older students who are placed into teams and must complete a series of connected projects.  
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''Widgets Inc.'' is a business themed English communication course using a task-based approach to language learning. It is designed for classes of 12 to 40 young adult or older students who are placed into teams and must complete a series of connected projects.  
  
 
Students simulate being interns at a startup company called Widgets Inc., where they brainstorm product ideas, pitch their ideas, perform market research, design ad campaigns, participate in a job interview, and more.
 
Students simulate being interns at a startup company called Widgets Inc., where they brainstorm product ideas, pitch their ideas, perform market research, design ad campaigns, participate in a job interview, and more.
  
''Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English'' (120 pp., A4 paperback) is available from the following distributors: [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598 englishbooks.jp ]. It is published by [[Atama-ii Books]] (2018) and was written by [[Marcos Benevides]] and [[Chris Valvona]].
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''Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English'' (120 pp., A4 paperback) is available from the following distributors: [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598 englishbooks.jp ]. It is published by [[Atama-ii Books]] (2018) and was written by [[Marcos Benevides]] and [[Chris Valvona]]. ISBN: 9781941140000
  
  

Revision as of 21:48, 2 May 2019


[Not captioned]


WIDGETS NEWS

Eltons.jpg


Widgets Inc. a finalist for the 2019 British Council ELTons!

[2019 04/05] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Widgets Inc. is a finalist for the 2019 British Council ELTon Award for Course Innovation! The ELTons are the very top international award in ELT publishing, sometimes referred to as "the Academy Awards of ELT"–and if so, Course Innovation is like the Best Picture category!

Winners will be announced and livecast at a celebrity-filled ceremony in London on June 10th. Watch this space for more updates!


OLDER NEWS


ABOUT WIDGETS INC.

Widgets Inc. is a business themed English communication course using a task-based approach to language learning. It is designed for classes of 12 to 40 young adult or older students who are placed into teams and must complete a series of connected projects.

Students simulate being interns at a startup company called Widgets Inc., where they brainstorm product ideas, pitch their ideas, perform market research, design ad campaigns, participate in a job interview, and more.

Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English (120 pp., A4 paperback) is available from the following distributors: englishbooks.jp . It is published by Atama-ii Books (2018) and was written by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona. ISBN: 9781941140000


Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.

  • CEFR B1 and above: students are engaged and challenged at their own level of achievement even while working together in mixed-level teams. Task situations provide useful language and excellent incidental practice for TOEIC speaking and writing components.
  • Integrated skill development: students develop fluency and confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing via discussions, presentations, self and team evaluations, report writing, viewing video instructions, and many more highly-contextualized tasks.
  • Meaningful assessment: students are assessed primarily by task outcome in accordance with Communicative Language Teaching and TBLT principles; a secondary focus on the use of language forms is also possible.

Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.

The course starts with easy tasks, and quickly builds to more complex projects. This puts the focus and the challenge of the course on the practical use of English, rather than on passing language tests. It also encourages students to develop fluency and confidence in using English in ‘real world’ situations.

The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:

  • Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation
  • Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals
  • Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals
  • Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product
  • Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign
  • Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job


WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS

About the course

Inspection sample

Course videos

Lesson plans

Answer keys

Ordering information

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