Name: Dennis Akers
Job Title: Director of Studies
Institution: International House Mataró
Background information: I H Mataró in the north east of Spain has
been running all types of English courses (general, Cambridge exam preparation,
business etc.) for over 25 years.
Featured Products: 
and
Dennis explains how the school
got started...
Introduction
"We had
used the free resources on the Flo-Joe website more or less since it started
[in the year 2000]. At that stage I would
incorporate it in classes in small chunks as a simple change of focus,
but soon began to see the benefits of using it in an integrated way within
a course syllabus/timetable. A short time before EXAM SUCCESS PLUS
came on the market I was using the free version of Flo-Joe in what we
called a "Combi". This meant that a student studying the final
lap of an FCE or CAE course used Flo-Joe at home and/or the school premises.
They emailed me writing tasks to correct and they were lent authentic
listening tasks by the school. Additionally they were given Paper 5 [Speaking]
practice for one hour a week in the exam format. These "Combis"
were not set up as formal courses, but rather as two students (paired
for the oral exam) who would come to the school at an agreed hour for
class."
Reason(s) for buying
the EXAM SUCCESS PLUS series
"After the success of the "Combi" using Flo-Joe's free
resources, once EXAM SUCCESS PLUS came on the market it was a logical
step. During the first stage the student bought the course individually.
However, this year we have bought the institutional version FCE and CPE
as well and incorporated it in a structured way into the school syllabus:
i.e. we offer courses that use EXAM SUCCESS PLUS as a base, especially
this year with CPE. These courses we call 'Mixtos'."
IT/self-access facilities
"We have 11 computers organised in an open plan way (no partitions)
of various age, some with state-of-the-art technology, others less so.
Windows 2000 is installed throughout and various programs are networked.
International House has its own online course called "netlanguages"
and we use this for other levels studying 'Mixtos'."
Choosing the right
option
[Note: EXAM SUCCESS PLUS is available in
three versions:
a) Direct purchase by
the learner
or
Purchase by institution on behalf of the learner:
b) Type 1 - individual user accounts lasting 13 weeks
c) Type 2 - institutional site licence lasting 12 months or longer]
"We have used both a) and b). For students studying "Combis"
which operate like a private class outside the general school timetable
they have made their own purchase in the past. This term the "Combis"
are being done by myself. We use the Type 1 option for groups that are
programmed within the school timetable; for example, we have a CPE
EXAM SUCCESS PLUS group on Saturday mornings (8 students) defined
as a "Mixto" and the school has purchased individual user accounts
for each student."
Getting started with
EXAM SUCCESS PLUS (ordering, installation and support)
"We are very satisfied with the service. The ordering itself was
done by the School Director but I am under the impression that every facility
was made to make the process easy. The service was personal, friendly
and efficient, making useful suggestions on how the school's particular
ordering problems could be resolved. I believe the passwords arrived from
one day to the next."
Initial student reaction(s)
to learning with EXAM SUCCESS PLUS
"In terms of finding their way around the program, no problems at
all. Some students showed initial doubts about using computers to study
but so far so good. It is too early to make judgements on the system,
but I feel that is more about how we use EXAM SUCCESS PLUS in the
school, not the quality of the website. We are learning fast and I feel
there is a big future in this kind of class due to its flexibility, particularly
the possibility of one tutor monitoring students at different stages of
a syllabus. It combines the best of teacher-run classes with the possibility
of individual attention and each student progressing at a pace that suits
them."
How EXAM SUCCESS
PLUS is used each week
"For our "Mixtos" classes the students use EXAM SUCCESS
PLUS for 45 minutes with tutor help and then have a 'presential' class
with the same tutor for oral activities, writing and exam preparation
- lasting about 90 minutes. I have made tick-off sheets and students have
defined targets to reach each week. Students are encouraged to do an activity
online, make a print off of the same activity and repeat it on paper,
then check their answers online and finally repeat the online activity
a week/two weeks later. Students are told to tick the activity each time
they do it. I have printed off the EXAM SUCCESS PLUS series syllabus
[see example of
FCE syllabus], copied
and pasted into a Word document, inserting small boxes into each activity
box. Students tick in these boxes. The tutor monitors what students do
at home and solves any problems during individual tutorials."
Tip(s) for other
teachers who are using EXAM SUCCESS PLUS
"I would say the process of repeating activities as outlined
above is an excellent way of using the materials."
Feedback received
from your students and teachers about EXAM SUCCESS PLUS
"A little too soon to say in terms of "Mixtos". I have
always had excellent feedback from students working individually. One
particular advantage of the Flo-Joe site is its simplicity of use and
lack of complicated plug-ins etc....and, more importantly, in the manner
of the BBC, no pop-ups offering casino games like some American educational
sites."
We are grateful to Dennis Akers and the staff and students of International House Mataró for their help in producing this Case Study.
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For further
information about our EXAM SUCCESS PLUS series please use the following
contact details:
Fiona Joseph, Co-founder
Flo-Joe
54 Shirley Road, Birmingham, B27 7XH, UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (0)121 624 3501
Email: examsuccessplus@flo-joe.co.uk
Main Web: http://www.flo-joe.co.uk
Exam Success Plus for schools Web: http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/newsletter/institutional/index.htm
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