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		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2052</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2052"/>
		<updated>2026-01-26T12:55:28Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a digital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 10/06]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CAN A LANGUAGE TEXTBOOK BE TASK-BASED?&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Watch Widgets co-author Marcos Benevides&amp;#039; presentation for the JALT Materials Writers SIG in October 2025. Pro Tip: the juicy bits are in the first ten minutes, so set it to 1.5x speed and give yourself a TBLT-themed ☕ break!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:MWSIG.png|1500px|link=https://youtu.be/LqKAJrxS-OQ]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2051</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2051"/>
		<updated>2026-01-26T12:53:45Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a digital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 10/06]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CAN A LANGUAGE TEXTBOOK BE TASK-BASED?&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:MWSIG.png|1500px|link=https://youtu.be/LqKAJrxS-OQ]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Watch Widgets co-author Marcos Benevides&amp;#039; presentation for the JALT Materials Writers SIG. Pro Tip: the juicy bits are in the first 10:00, so set it to 1.5x speed and give yourself a TBLT-themed ☕ break!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:MWSIG.png&amp;diff=2050</id>
		<title>File:MWSIG.png</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:MWSIG.png&amp;diff=2050"/>
		<updated>2026-01-26T12:52:12Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2049</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2049"/>
		<updated>2026-01-26T12:43:05Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a digital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 10/06]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CAN A LANGUAGE TEXTBOOK BE TASK-BASED?&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Watch Widgets co-author Marcos Benevides&amp;#039; presentation for the JALT Materials Writers SIG. Pro Tip: the juicy bits are in the first 10:00, so set it to 1.5x speed and give yourself a TBLT-themed ☕ break!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
https://youtu.be/LqKAJrxS-OQ&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2048</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2048"/>
		<updated>2026-01-26T12:42:19Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a digital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 10/06]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CAN A LANGUAGE TEXTBOOK BE TASK-BASED?&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Watch Widgets co-author Marcos Benevides&amp;#039; presentation for the JALT Materials Writers SIG. Pro Tip: the juicy bits are in the first 10:00, so set it to 1.5x speed and give yourself a TBLT-themed ☕ break!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;iframe width=&amp;quot;560&amp;quot; height=&amp;quot;315&amp;quot; src=&amp;quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LqKAJrxS-OQ?si=Wl23UwUAG6lTBw0Z&amp;quot; title=&amp;quot;YouTube video player&amp;quot; frameborder=&amp;quot;0&amp;quot; allow=&amp;quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&amp;quot; referrerpolicy=&amp;quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&amp;quot; allowfullscreen&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/iframe&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
https://youtu.be/LqKAJrxS-OQ&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2047</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2047"/>
		<updated>2026-01-26T12:37:14Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a digital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 10/06]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;iframe width=&amp;quot;560&amp;quot; height=&amp;quot;315&amp;quot; src=&amp;quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/LqKAJrxS-OQ?si=Wl23UwUAG6lTBw0Z&amp;quot; title=&amp;quot;YouTube video player&amp;quot; frameborder=&amp;quot;0&amp;quot; allow=&amp;quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&amp;quot; referrerpolicy=&amp;quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&amp;quot; allowfullscreen&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/iframe&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
https://youtu.be/LqKAJrxS-OQ&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2046</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2046"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:52:31Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a digital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2045</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2045"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:51:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a didgital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2044</id>
		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2044"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:51:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
The lesson plans provide a suggested timeline for tasks, detailed guidance for each lesson, required materials for each class, and suggestions for implementing and adapting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the links below for complete lesson plans depending on your situation:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan A]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan B]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 15 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan C]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 50-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Answer Keys ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Many of the questions posed in the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; coursebook are intentionally open-ended in order to elicit authentic discussion. Nevertheless, we hope you find these answer keys helpful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Answer Keys]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Syllabus Templates ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. The following are free sample proposals that teachers who have used Widgets have submitted. They may not perfectly match the lesson plans above.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_28x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;28-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : loosely matches Lesson Plan A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_14x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;14-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : closely matches Lesson plan B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2043</id>
		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2043"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:50:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
.&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
The lesson plans provide a suggested timeline for tasks, detailed guidance for each lesson, required materials for each class, and suggestions for implementing and adapting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the links below for complete lesson plans depending on your situation:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan A]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan B]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 15 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan C]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 50-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Answer Keys ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Many of the questions posed in the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; coursebook are intentionally open-ended in order to elicit authentic discussion. Nevertheless, we hope you find these answer keys helpful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Answer Keys]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Syllabus Templates ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. The following are free sample proposals that teachers who have used Widgets have submitted. They may not perfectly match the lesson plans above.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_28x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;28-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : loosely matches Lesson Plan A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_14x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;14-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : closely matches Lesson plan B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2042</id>
		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2042"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:50:14Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
The lesson plans provide a suggested timeline for tasks, detailed guidance for each lesson, required materials for each class, and suggestions for implementing and adapting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the links below for complete lesson plans depending on your situation:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan A]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan B]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 15 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan C]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 50-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Answer Keys ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Many of the questions posed in the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; coursebook are intentionally open-ended in order to elicit authentic discussion. Nevertheless, we hope you find these answer keys helpful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Answer Keys]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Syllabus Templates ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. The following are free sample proposals that teachers who have used Widgets have submitted. They may not perfectly match the lesson plans above.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_28x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;28-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : loosely matches Lesson Plan A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_14x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;14-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : closely matches Lesson plan B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2041</id>
		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2041"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:49:38Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Suggested lesson plans for Widgets Inc. ==&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
The lesson plans provide a suggested timeline for tasks, detailed guidance for each lesson, required materials for each class, and suggestions for implementing and adapting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the links below for complete lesson plans depending on your situation:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan A]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan B]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 15 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan C]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 50-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Answer Keys ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Many of the questions posed in the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; coursebook are intentionally open-ended in order to elicit authentic discussion. Nevertheless, we hope you find these answer keys helpful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Answer Keys]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Syllabus Templates ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. The following are free sample proposals that teachers who have used Widgets have submitted. They may not perfectly match the lesson plans above.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_28x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;28-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : loosely matches Lesson Plan A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_14x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;14-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : closely matches Lesson plan B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2040</id>
		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2040"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:48:09Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
The lesson plans provide a suggested timeline for tasks, detailed guidance for each lesson, required materials for each class, and suggestions for implementing and adapting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the links below for complete lesson plans depending on your situation:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan A]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan B]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 15 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan C]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 50-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Answer Keys ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Many of the questions posed in the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; coursebook are intentionally open-ended in order to elicit authentic discussion. Nevertheless, we hope you find these answer keys helpful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Answer Keys]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Syllabus Templates ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. The following are free sample proposals that teachers who have used Widgets have submitted. They may not perfectly match the lesson plans above.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_28x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;28-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : loosely matches Lesson Plan A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_14x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;14-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : closely matches Lesson plan B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2039</id>
		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2039"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:47:41Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
The lesson plans provide a suggested timeline for tasks, detailed guidance for each lesson, required materials for each class, and suggestions for implementing and adapting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the links below for complete lesson plans depending on your situation:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan A]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan B]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 15 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan C]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 50-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Answer Keys ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Many of the questions posed in the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; coursebook are intentionally open-ended in order to elicit authentic discussion. Nevertheless, we hope you find these answer keys helpful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Answer Keys]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Syllabus Templates ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. The following are free sample proposals that teachers who have used Widgets have submitted. They may not perfectly match the lesson plans above.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_28x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;28-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : loosely matches Lesson Plan A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_14x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;14-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : closely matches Lesson plan B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2038</id>
		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans&amp;diff=2038"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:47:15Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The lesson plans provide a suggested timeline for tasks, detailed guidance for each lesson, required materials for each class, and suggestions for implementing and adapting.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the links below for complete lesson plans depending on your situation:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan A]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan B]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 15 x 90-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Lesson plan C]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is for 30 x 50-minute lessons&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Answer Keys ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Many of the questions posed in the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; coursebook are intentionally open-ended in order to elicit authentic discussion. Nevertheless, we hope you find these answer keys helpful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Answer Keys]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Syllabus Templates ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. The following are free sample proposals that teachers who have used Widgets have submitted. They may not perfectly match the lesson plans above.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_28x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;28-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : loosely matches Lesson Plan A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[:File:Widgets_syllabus_14x100mins.pdf|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;14-weeks x 100-minute lessons&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]] : closely matches Lesson plan B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2037</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2037"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:46:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a didgital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2036</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2036"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:45:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia case studies flip.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a didgital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Widgepedia_case_studies_flip.png&amp;diff=2035</id>
		<title>File:Widgepedia case studies flip.png</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Widgepedia_case_studies_flip.png&amp;diff=2035"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:44:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: Case Studies image and link to digital flipbook&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;== Summary ==&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies image and link to digital flipbook&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2034</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2034"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T03:43:28Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2025 12/12]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/Case-Studies-full-PDF/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Case Studies in Business Innovation: Readings for Discussion is now available for purchase as a didgital flipbook! Click on the image above to go to the FlipHTML5 site, where you can look inside and also purchase the full book. The print version remains available via englishbooks.jp (ISBN: 9781941140505)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Marcos_Benevides&amp;diff=2033</id>
		<title>Marcos Benevides</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Marcos_Benevides&amp;diff=2033"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T02:38:31Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;[[Image:Marcos2.png|200px|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
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Marcos Benevides is an international award-winning author, editor, and publisher. He is also Associate Professor of Linguistics at J. F. Oberlin University in Tokyo. His research interests include task-based learning, extensive reading, materials development, and teacher education.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
His English language teaching books have been awarded many of the top international prizes in the field, including the ESU Duke of Edinburgh Award, the British Council ELTon Award for &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Fiction in Action: Whodunit&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2010, [http://abax.co.jp/product.php?id=10&amp;amp;catid=9 Abax ELT]) and for &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2019), and an ELTon nomination and several Extensive Reading Foundations awards for the [http://www.atama-ii.com/ Atama-ii Books] multi-path graded reader series. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Benevides is the founder, president, and publisher of [[Atama-ii Books]], and co-author (with [[Chris Valvona]]) of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2018). They also co-authored the original &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets: A task-based course in practical English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2008, Pearson Longman). His other credits include co-author on &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Reading for Speed and Fluency 2nd Edition&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2018, Compass) with Paul Nation, James Broadbridge, and Joseph Siegel, and series editor and co-author on &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Choose Your Own Adventure&amp;#039;&amp;#039; graded readers (2014, McGraw-Hill Education) with Mark Firth, Chris Valvona, and Ted O&amp;#039;Neill.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Marcos_Benevides&amp;diff=2032</id>
		<title>Marcos Benevides</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Marcos_Benevides&amp;diff=2032"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T02:37:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Image:Marcos2.png|200px|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Marcos Benevides is an author, editor, and publisher. He is also Associate Professor of Linguistics at J. F. Oberlin University in Tokyo. His research interests include task-based learning, extensive reading, materials development, and teacher education.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
His English language teaching books have been awarded many of the top international prizes in the field, including the ESU Duke of Edinburgh Award, the British Council ELTon Award for &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Fiction in Action: Whodunit&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2010, [http://abax.co.jp/product.php?id=10&amp;amp;catid=9 Abax ELT]) and for &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2019), and an ELTon nomination and several Extensive Reading Foundations awards for the [http://www.atama-ii.com/ Atama-ii Books] multi-path graded reader series. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Benevides is the founder, president, and publisher of [[Atama-ii Books]], and co-author (with [[Chris Valvona]]) of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2018). They also co-authored the original &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets: A task-based course in practical English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2008, Pearson Longman). His other credits include co-author on &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Reading for Speed and Fluency 2nd Edition&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2018, Compass) with Paul Nation, James Broadbridge, and Joseph Siegel, and series editor and co-author on &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Choose Your Own Adventure&amp;#039;&amp;#039; graded readers (2014, McGraw-Hill Education) with Mark Firth, Chris Valvona, and Ted O&amp;#039;Neill.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgepedia&amp;diff=2031</id>
		<title>Widgepedia</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgepedia&amp;diff=2031"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T02:31:31Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgepedia logo-sm.png|200px|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
Widgepedia is a support wiki for teachers who use or are interested in using &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2018, [[Atama-ii Books]]) in their English classes. If you are not familiar with &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please read [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. about the course]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This is a wiki, so we expect that it will always remain a work in progress. As we get new ideas for improving the course, we will add them here. Likewise, if &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;you&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; have an idea which could help other teachers to use the course, please let us know.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Anyone can access and use the materials on Widgepedia.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Unfortunately, we have been forced to turn off the open editing feature of the wiki, due to a high number of spam-bot attacks. If you would like to contribute to the wiki, please email us at the email address below, and we can make the addition or change for you.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;License&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Regarding license and permissions:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Print &amp;amp; Digital Editions&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (i.e. &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;the coursebook itself&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt;) is published under a standard copyright license (2018, Atama-ii Books). This means that all permissions to copy and share it are reserved by the publisher. The print edition may be purchased internationally through our Japan-based partner, englishbooks.jp: [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-8060 Widgets Inc. print edition]. If you purchase a print edition, we will gladly provide you with access to the digital edition upon request, at no extra charge. Digital-only purchases can be made at FlipHTML5.com: [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Widgets Inc. digital edition]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. Special requests and permissions.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; If you would like permission to print or copy pages or text from the book, please contact us at publisher@atama-ii.com. We are always happy to accommodate reasonable requests. If you are involved in SLA research or wish to review the course, we can gladly provide you with free digital access upon request. Note that we may ask that you verify your academic affiliation.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgepedia.com&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (i.e. &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;this website&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt;) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0]) license. This means that you are able to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;share&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (that is: copy and redistribute the material found here) and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;adapt&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (that is: remix, transform, and build upon the material) as long as you follow the terms below. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*&amp;lt;u&amp;gt;Attribution&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests that we endorse you or your use. &lt;br /&gt;
*&amp;lt;u&amp;gt;NonCommercial&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. &lt;br /&gt;
*&amp;lt;u&amp;gt;ShareAlike&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; — If you do remix, transform, or build upon the material, then you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. &lt;br /&gt;
*&amp;lt;u&amp;gt;No additional restrictions&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything that our license permits.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
To be clear: the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 terms apply to everything on this website &amp;#039;&amp;#039;except&amp;#039;&amp;#039; the coursebook itself: i.e. not to the print version, and not to the digital version. The coursebook itself remains under a standard copyright license. Thank you for your cooperation.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources&amp;diff=2030</id>
		<title>Other Resources</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources&amp;diff=2030"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T02:09:22Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
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&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Important message to visitors]]:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;We are sorry, but due to excessive spamming attempts, we have disabled the contribution feature. If you would like to contribute to the wiki, please send an email to the address at the bottom of the page, under the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo. Thank you.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Indiegogo.png|300px|thumb|left|link=http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources]]&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;br clear=all&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[https://www.indiegogo.com/about/what-we-do Crowdfunding sites]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;(Stages 2, 5)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Indiegogo (title link) is a crowdfunding site which features thousands of product ideas which are continuously being pitched by aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses. Another popular crowdfunding site is [https://www.kickstarter.com Kickstarter]. (In fact, Atama-ii Books, the publishing company behind Widgets Inc., [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atama-ii/atama-ii-books-multiple-path-stories-in-easy-engli was itself launched as a Kickstarter campaign] in 2014.) &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some of the short product pitch videos that go along with each idea are excellent models for the Stage 2 Elevator Pitch or the Stage 5 Video Commercial tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[https://bzreading.weebly.com/student-online-portfolio-sample.html Student online CV sample]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;(Stage 6)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This is a sample student job hunting portfolio page.  Job hunting portfolios are a fairly new idea in Japan. But just having one will help you stand out from all the other candidates for a job.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Shared by M. Helgesen, Miyagi Gakuin Women&amp;#039;s University.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Certificate thumb2.png|300px|thumb|right|link=http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Achievement_Certificate3.pdf Widgets Internship Certificate of Completion]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;(Stage 6, End)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the title to download this editable PDF to print for your students at the end of the course. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We recommend using a color printer and card or premium paper stock for the best effect. Thank you to Marc Helgesen for this idea.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources&amp;diff=2029</id>
		<title>Other Resources</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources&amp;diff=2029"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T02:08:27Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Important message to visitors]]:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;We are sorry, but due to excessive spamming attempts, we have disabled the contribution feature. If you would like to contribute to the wiki, please send an email to the address at the bottom of the page, under the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo. Thank you.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Indiegogo.png|300px|thumb|left|link=http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources]]&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;br clear=all&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[https://www.indiegogo.com/about/what-we-do Crowdfunding sites]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;(Stages 2, 5)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Indiegogo (title link) is a crowdfunding site which features thousands of product ideas which are continuously being pitched by aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses. Another popular crowdfunding site is [https://www.kickstarter.com Kickstarter]. (In fact, Atama-ii Books, the publishing company behind Widgets Inc., [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atama-ii/atama-ii-books-multiple-path-stories-in-easy-engli was itself launched as a Kickstarter campaign] in 2014.) &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some of the short product pitch videos that go along with each idea are excellent models for the Stage 2 Elevator Pitch or the Stage 5 Video Commercial tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[https://bzreading.weebly.com/student-online-portfolio-sample.html Student online CV sample]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;(Stage 6)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This is a sample student job hunting portfolio page.  Job hunting portfolios are a fairly new idea in Japan. But just having one will help you stand out from all the other candidates for a job.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Shared by M. Helgesen, Miyagi Gakuin Women&amp;#039;s University.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Certificate thumb2.png|300px|thumb|right|link=http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Other_Resources]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Achievement_Certificate3.pdf Widgets Internship Certificate of Completion]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;(Stage 6, End)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Click on the title to download this editable PDF to print for your students at the end of the course. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We recommend using a color printer and card or premium paper stock for the best effect. Thank you to Marc Helgesen for this idea.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2028</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2028"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T02:03:27Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/ &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/qfcn/]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the FlipHTML5 platform [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ at this link]. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version upon request. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Ordering_Information&amp;diff=2027</id>
		<title>Ordering Information</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Ordering_Information&amp;diff=2027"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:27:58Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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Widgets Inc. is available in Japan and worldwide via [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598 englishbooks.jp]. Print includes access to the digital edition upon request, with proof of purchase.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The digital edition may be purchased as an online flipbook, at [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf fliphtml5.com]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Ordering_Information&amp;diff=2026</id>
		<title>Ordering Information</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Ordering_Information&amp;diff=2026"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:26:55Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Widgets Inc. is available in Japan and worldwide via [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598 englishbooks.jp]. Print includes access to the digital edition upon request, with proof of purchase.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The digital edition may be purchased as an online flipbook, at [https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2025</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2025"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:24:11Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
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&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2024</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2024"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:23:29Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2023</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2023"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:22:46Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO LOOK INSIDE OR TO BUY THE DIGITAL VERSION.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2022</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2022"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:19:49Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2021</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2021"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:19:08Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/ [[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2020</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2020"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:16:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px|link=https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2019</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2019"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:12:39Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Widgets flip cover.png|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Widgets_flip_cover.png&amp;diff=2018</id>
		<title>File:Widgets flip cover.png</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Widgets_flip_cover.png&amp;diff=2018"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:11:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: Widgets cover and link to online digital flipbook.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;== Summary ==&lt;br /&gt;
Widgets cover and link to online digital flipbook.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Widgets_flip_cover2.png&amp;diff=2017</id>
		<title>File:Widgets flip cover2.png</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=File:Widgets_flip_cover2.png&amp;diff=2017"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T01:06:55Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: Cover of Widgets Inc. and link to the online flipbook digital version.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;== Summary ==&lt;br /&gt;
Cover of Widgets Inc. and link to the online flipbook digital version.&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2016</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2016"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:53:12Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2015</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2015"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:52:40Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;iframe&lt;br /&gt;
  src=&amp;quot;https://online.fliphtml5.com/XXXX/YYYY/&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
  width=&amp;quot;100%&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
  height=&amp;quot;700&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
  style=&amp;quot;border:0;&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
  allowfullscreen&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/iframe&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2014</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2014"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:44:30Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
[https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2013</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2013"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:40:34Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
{{Special:IframePage}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2012</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2012"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:36:42Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[fliph5 id=&amp;quot;vgezk-eqvf&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;400px&amp;quot; height=&amp;quot;250px&amp;quot; title=&amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;quot;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2011</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2011"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:35:07Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2010</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2010"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:33:25Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2009</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.&amp;diff=2009"/>
		<updated>2025-12-13T00:32:19Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;__NOTOC__&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;div style=&amp;quot;position:relative;padding-top:max(60%,324px);width:100%;height:0;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;iframe style=&amp;quot;position:absolute;border:none;width:100%;height:100%;left:0;top:0;&amp;quot; src=&amp;quot;https://online.fliphtml5.com/vgezk/eqvf/&amp;quot;  seamless=&amp;quot;seamless&amp;quot; scrolling=&amp;quot;no&amp;quot; frameborder=&amp;quot;0&amp;quot; allowtransparency=&amp;quot;true&amp;quot; allowfullscreen=&amp;quot;true&amp;quot; &amp;gt;&amp;lt;/iframe&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) 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: 978-194-11-4000-0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Ordering Information|[How to order Widgets Inc.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== About the Course ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a different kind of English communication course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an [[wikipedia:English_as_a_second_or_foreign_language|ESL/EFL]] course employing a [[wikipedia:communicative language teaching|communicative language teaching]] approach called [[wikipedia:task-based learning|task-based learning]] (TBL). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; employs a &amp;#039;strong&amp;#039; version of TBL, which makes it unlike other language coursebooks you may have seen before. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is to develop communicative competence rather than grammatical accuracy. Self, peer, and teacher assessment is based on the appropriate completion of tasks.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Task-Based Learning|[Read more about TBL and TBL assessment as it relates to Widgets.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Something else that makes &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; different from other courses is its focus on creating a “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students simulate being interns at a technology startup called Widgets Incorporated, where they work together in small groups to perform workplace and business related tasks. In this way, all classroom activities are realistically connected; all conversations, discussions, presentations, video calls, and interviews have a contextual purpose, and build from one to the next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This has several advantages:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It recycles useful language and situations:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Relevant vocabulary and sentence patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This implicitly builds confidence and language proficiency.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is well-suited for mixed-level classes:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a range of proficiency levels can achieve meaningful task outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It&amp;#039;s easy to understand the purpose of activities:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Because all tasks are realistic, contextualized, and clearly connected to each other, even less proficient students can follow what is asked of them. By drawing on their prior knowledge, they may even predict what&amp;#039;s next.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;It is motivating:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom, and a marked decrease in absenteeism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Where to Start ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We are sure that you will agree that &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is easy to use and satisfying to teach with. However, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is not the kind of book that you can flip open on the first day of class and figure out as you go along.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 16-20 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of about thirty 90-minute sessions. We have used it successfully with classes with as few as 12 students and as many as 40. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course: A class with 40 students may take up to three times longer to hold discussions and give presentations than a class of 16.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Lesson Plans|[Look through several recommended lesson-by-lesson plans.]]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also, since the stages are connected and build to a conclusion, it may be less satisfying to teach them out of order, or to skip one. See below for an overview of the six stages of the course.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In short, in order for you and your students to get the most out of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, please take some time to read over this wiki teacher&amp;#039;s manual, and to familiarize yourself with the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; student book. See our suggested lesson plans in the main menu for ideas – or develop your own and add it to the wiki!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/widgets.inc [Join our Users&amp;#039; Group on Facebook to connect with other teachers and share ideas.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Concepts ==&lt;br /&gt;
The following course concepts are important in guiding the simulation aspect of the course:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Teams:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members, with 4 being the ideal number. Teams remain together from Stage 2 to Stage 5, and cannot be changed easily. Teams generally work best when they have a good mix of personality types and abilities, giving different students a chance to shine as the different projects come around.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Project Manager:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage. One additional task which adds to the simulation is to schedule a &amp;quot;debriefing&amp;quot; interview between the teacher and the PM after their stage is completed. This allows the teacher to provide one-on-one feedback to each student in the class over the course of the semester, and helps to track how each student in the team is (or maybe isn&amp;#039;t) participating.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;quot;Paperwork&amp;quot;:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as &amp;quot;employee evaluations&amp;quot; on pages titled &amp;quot;Paperwork!&amp;quot;. Within the Widgets course, other assessments may include [[self assessment]], [[peer assessment]], and [[instructor assessment]]. Please see [[TBL Assessment]] in the wiki sidebar for more information, and for the forms themselves in the [[Downloadable Forms]] page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Video calls:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Widgets [[Course Videos]] can be streamed or downloaded. The course video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most of the videos simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. Some videos model how certain tasks can be performed. All videos are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be initially viewed for gist, and then discussed by the teams or the whole class. NOTE: The videos are not DRM protected, and are provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND license. This means that they may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification. Please credit &amp;quot;Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English, by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona&amp;quot; and link to widgepedia.com when sharing the videos.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watercooler chats:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations. Use the example cards in Appendix A or download the PDF from [[Downloadable Forms]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Product Catalog pages&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Appendix B in the student book comprises pages from the Widgets &amp;quot;catalog&amp;quot;. These are intended to be used as information gap pages, where students each look at a different page and describe their product to another student. They may be used at will at any stage throughout the course. In the first edition of Widgets, they were included in the main text; however, we have found that including them in an appendix gives teachers better flexibility in deciding when or if to use them.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Stages Overview ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; course is divided into six stages. Note that these stages are not of equal length or importance, and that it is expected that teachers will adapt them to the requirements of their own class. For example, it is possible to reduce or combine parts of Stages 4 and 5, or to skip most of Stage 6 depending on time constraints or curricular aims.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also note that the stages increase in task complexity, so although the course starts out quite easy, it becomes increasingly more challenging.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Image:Stages_1-6.jpg|1500px]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s1header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 1&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. There is no major task in Stage 1. Orientation tasks include: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Shake hands and introduce yourself to a co-worker&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Watch a video about the company&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Read and discuss a product catalog&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams where they will remain until the end of Stage 5.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s2header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 2&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Teams work on two major tasks: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a product proposal form&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Present an elevator pitch&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Although they are in teams, it is important to note that &amp;lt;u&amp;gt;each student&amp;lt;/u&amp;gt; is responsible for completing their own different product proposal form and an elevator pitch. At the end of Stage 2, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers each have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s3header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 3&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a management decision stage. Teams are now given several product ideas from a different team, and must select the best one to go into production. They do this by using a business decision-making tool called a SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for outlining the pros and cons of a product. There are two major team tasks in Stage 3: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business memo&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a poster presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 3, teams submit their work, and each student completes a self-evaluation form. Project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s4header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 4&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the market research stage. The product which was selected in Stage 3 is rotated to yet another team, and the new team must now perform market research on it. As a preliminary task, they &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Organize and run a focus group&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. Once they have gathered feedback on the product, the teams &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Write a business report&amp;#039;&amp;#039; on focus group reactions and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a formal presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039; outlining the team&amp;#039;s recommendations about the product. Optionally, teachers may wish to consider the focus group task as the main speaking task, and skip the presentation. At the end of Stage 4, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s5header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 5&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the advertising campaign stage. Products are again rotated to new teams, along with the reports prepared in Stages 2, 3, and 4. Teams now consider all of this information, and prepare a proposed advertising campaign to sell the product. The major tasks in Stage 5 are &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a slideshow and handout&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Give a multi-media presentation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. At the end of Stage 5, each student completes a self-evaluation form, and project managers have a one-on-one interview with the teacher. This is the final team-based stage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:s6header.png|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Stage 6&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is the job interview stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Prepare a resume and cover letter&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and then &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Interview for a promotion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; within the company.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Course Video ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course video in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is at a near-authentic language level, and serves several purposes:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;1. It models language and situations for students.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the sample task videos, in which the stage tasks are literally performed (for example, [[Video 5]] or [[Video 8]]). Lower language proficiency students may want to follow these models almost word-for-word, whereas higher proficiency students can look at them as just one possible way of performing the task. In fact, teachers may want to elicit discussion about good and bad points of these examples – certainly none of the videos is perfect!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2. It helps to develop an authentic context for the course.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; That is, the videos help make the students &amp;quot;feel&amp;quot; like they are in a real workplace. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve added features which you may not expect (for example, Titus having recurring technical problems in [[Video 7]]). Another aspect of authenticity is that the characters may display likeable or unlikable personality traits. We encourage students to form an opinion on whether they like or dislike the boss, and perhaps talk about their opinion in appropriate ways.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;3. It provides opportunities for discussion, note-taking, and other classroom activity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; This is especially true of the conference-call videos in which one of the company founders is addressing the teams (for example, [[Video 4]] or [[Video 7]]). It is not expected that most students will understand 100% of the language used in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; videos; in most cases, students are meant to watch and take notes in their team, then turn to each other and ask, &amp;quot;What did the boss say?&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;What does she want us to do next?&amp;quot;, and so on. In other words, the ideal post-viewing activity is for the students to work together to reconstruct the message from key words they may have caught.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2008</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2008"/>
		<updated>2024-03-22T07:11:33Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
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{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
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[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the Issuu platform [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/w2_issuu_v4 at this link]. It includes embedded links to course video and other useful links. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/widgets_2_full_for_issuu/1?ff&amp;amp;e=35104970/65541912 Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2007</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2007"/>
		<updated>2024-03-22T06:55:01Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the Issuu platform [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/w2_issuu_v4 at this link]. It includes embedded links to course video and other useful links. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/widgets_2_full_for_issuu/1?ff&amp;amp;e=35104970/65541912 Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2006</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2006"/>
		<updated>2024-03-22T06:53:24Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the Issuu platform [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/w2_issuu_v4 at this link]. It includes embedded links to course video and other useful links. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/widgets_2_full_for_issuu/1?ff&amp;amp;e=35104970/65541912 Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2005</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2005"/>
		<updated>2024-03-22T06:53:05Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES AUTHOR PRESENTATION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the Issuu platform [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/w2_issuu_v4 at this link]. It includes embedded links to course video and other useful links. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/widgets_2_full_for_issuu/1?ff&amp;amp;e=35104970/65541912 Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2004</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2004"/>
		<updated>2024-03-22T06:49:59Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right||||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the Issuu platform [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/w2_issuu_v4 at this link]. It includes embedded links to course video and other useful links. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/widgets_2_full_for_issuu/1?ff&amp;amp;e=35104970/65541912 Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2003</id>
		<title>Widgets Inc.: Teach Outside the Box</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc.:_Teach_Outside_the_Box&amp;diff=2003"/>
		<updated>2024-03-22T06:49:33Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Marcos Benevides: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:W2 main Moodle image2.jpg|left|link=https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/widgets-inc-task-based-course-workplace-english-2nd-edition-p-43598]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== LATEST NEWS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 03/22] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the video below, co-author of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Marcos Benevides, explains how and why the book was developed. This short video was presented at ACIE 2024 in Bangkok. Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance got a free copy of the book. Everyone else will have to contend themselves with the free chapter available online [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;at this link&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|926099264||right|[]|||true|middle|}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2024 01/09] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS INNOVATION has launched! (CLICK TO SEE INSIDE)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Case studies cover.jpeg|200px|thumb|right|link=https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/case_studies_in_business_innovation_chapter_3]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is a course for college Business English students at CEFR B1 and above. It features 30 case study readings and supporting tasks. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The material can complement task-based, project-based, or action-oriented approach courses, as well as traditional skills-based courses. It is also suitable for ESL/EFL Business English courses that employ a case study method. Its compact A5 form-factor makes it ideal for self-study and out-of-class reading. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The course can be used on its own as a reading and discussion course, or as a reading supplement to the award-winning coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
ISBN: 9781941140505&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/product_info.php/en/case-studies-business-innovation-readings-for-discussion-beta-edition-p-54671  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Orders at englishbooks.jp&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2023 12/28]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. &amp;amp; CASE STUDIES - ALONE OR TOGETHER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The award-winning task-based coursebook, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, now features an optional companion book, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case studies in business innovation: Readings for discussion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The two books share a 6-stage/6-chapter framework that features complementary content. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 1 is themed around HR-related tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 1 features readings about HR innovations; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Stage 2 presents R&amp;amp;D tasks, whereas &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Chapter 2 highlights innovations in product development.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This means that the material can be easily combined. For example, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; team projects can be supplemented by homework readings and in-class discussions from &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to create a more intensive business English study experience. Conversely, teachers who do not want to commit to the full &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; simulation can now teach a more traditional task-supported course using only &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Case Studies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both books can be ordered [https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/en/widgets-inc-2nd-edition-latest-edition-c-25_8060 via englishbooks.jp].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 04/16]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. DIGITAL EDITION&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A digital edition of Widgets Inc. is now available for purchase via the Issuu platform [https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/w2_issuu_v4 at this link]. It includes embedded links to course video and other useful links. Users who have purchased a print edition of Widgets Inc. are eligible for one year of free access to the digital version. You can claim your access code by emailing us at the email listed at the bottom of this page, in the yellow &amp;quot;Atama-ii Books&amp;quot; logo.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2020 01/21]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. SYLLABUS TEMPLATES&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At many institutions, teachers are required to submit syllabus outlines for their courses. If so, they can download our free PDF syllabus templates [http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans at this link]. They were made for a Japanese university course, but include universal sections such as: Course Description, Course Objectives, Textbook Information, Assessment Criteria and perhaps most importantly, a weekly Lesson Schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
We currently have a 14-lesson x 100-minute period option, and a 28-lesson x 100-minute period option. Lesson plans for three course formats are also available at the link.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
If you write up your own syllabus and would like to share with other Widgets users, please contact us at the &amp;quot;publisher&amp;quot; email address at the bottom of this page.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[2019 06/13] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/past-eltons/eltons-2019-winners-and-finalists/2019-eltons-winners &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC. WINS BEST ELT COURSEBOOK OF 2019!&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At a ceremony overlooking the Thames in London on June 10th, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; edged out four worthy finalists to be awarded the 2019 British Council ELTon for Course Innovation, the most prestigious coursebook award in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It was an outstanding achievement, given the impressive competition. Among the final five was &amp;#039;&amp;#039;On Task&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Tokyo: Abax ELT Press), another excellent task-based book produced in Japan. The Widgets team was thrilled to be nominated, but to receive the top prize was truly an unexpected honour. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thank you to all of the incredible staff at the British Council who produced a great event, and to the host, poet Benjamin Zephariah. The evening was also made memorable by the presence of author Michael Rosen, who presented linguist David Crystal with a lifetime achievement award.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-innovation-awards-2019 More on the finalists and other winners here].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
----&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[OLDER NEWS]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== ABOUT &amp;#039;&amp;#039;WIDGETS INC.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;==&lt;br /&gt;
{{#ev:vimeo|333900811||center|[30-sec highlights video]|||true|middle|}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;HOW TO ORDER&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (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&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is great for mixed-ability classes from pre-intermediate to high-intermediate.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
*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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Widgets is arranged by task complexity, not language complexity.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Widgets project sequence, in order of increasing task complexity:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 1 Interns join the company orientation&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 2 Teams prepare and pitch new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 3 Teams discuss and evaluate new product proposals&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 4 Teams perform market research on the selected product&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 5 Teams plan and present a multimedia advertising campaign&lt;br /&gt;
*Stage 6 Interns prepare a resume and cover letter, and interview for a job&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== WIDGEPEDIA QUICK LINKS ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Widgets_Inc. About the course]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://issuu.com/atama-ii/docs/widgets_2_full_for_issuu/1?ff&amp;amp;e=35104970/65541912 Inspection sample]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Course_Videos Course videos]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Lesson_Plans Lesson plans]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.widgepedia.com/index.php?title=Answer_Keys Answer keys]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[https://www.englishbooks.jp/catalog/index.php/Coursebooks-Widgets-Inc.-2nd-Edition***-Latest-Edition-***-c-8060 HOW TO ORDER]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:atama-ii logo2.png|200px|right]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Marcos Benevides</name></author>
		
	</entry>
</feed>