English Language Programs for Large Scale Training Applications: English Discoveries and Planet English
Full Review

Reviewed by: Gerard Guthrie, Former Foundation Professor of Education, University of Goroka 2003, Papua New Guinea; Former Director AusAID 1991-2002
Review posted 16 October 2003
Review No. 4

CD-ROM Information

Content: Interactive skills training.
Publication Date: 1 January 1999
Audience: English Discoveries: Schools and technical colleges.Planet English: Schools and English language training organizations.

Size: English Discoveries: 12 CDs, 6.4 GB, Planet English: 10 CDs, 5.0 GB
Price: €110 single course of English Discoveries / Planet English purchase and subscription rates vary by country.
Manual needed: English Discoveries: Yes. Planet English: Yes.
How to order:

Order by e-mail:
E-mail: contact@englishdiscoveries.com

View website and pricing information.*

Planet English: Cannot be purchased for private use. It may be licensed to training centers for a fee. Potential users need to contact their local agents through the Planet Learning website.*

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Full Review

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Content

The current generation of CD-ROM technology for language laboratories makes the previous generation of cassette tape laboratories obsolete. English Discoveries and Planet English use Local Area Networks (LAN) for laboratory-based training. They target commercial and education system providers of English. The programs offer expensive but potentially cost-effective approaches for universities, technical colleges, schools, commercial language training centers and in-house training centers. They are mature products that have undergone extensive development and have wide international use.

The two programs have slightly different target audiences. English Discoveries a ppeals to younger school students with its graphics and study topics. Planet English targets secondary or university students who are planning to study English. English Discoveries covers a wider range of English levels and has more material.

English Discoveries has 12 CD-ROMs that provide some 1200 hours of tuition from beginner to advanced levels. Student material is on nine CDs with three levels: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Students have three ways of working: a 'Democratic' approach where students choose what to do; a 'Structured' approach with pre-programmed lessons and a 'Problem-Solving' approach through an adventure game. The structured approach has about 25 pre-programmed lessons per disc. For example, Intermediate 2, Lesson 16 has three exercises on talkback radio. These allow students to hear a script, do vocabulary exercises and tests and record and playback their own voices. Three other CDs comprise setup and test material, plus Executive English.

Planet English has 10 CD-ROMs that provide some 1000 hours of tuition from post-beginner to upper intermediate levels. The eight student discs have 25 modules, each with up to five lessons. Each module has a theme and includes a number of lessons with different exercises involving skills training in speaking, listening, reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar. For example, CD-ROM 3, Unit 2 has a listening module with an activity based on phone answering machines. The modules also contain a mock soap opera on video, which simulates real life use of English.

Neither program provides English for academic purposes, nor do they claim to. They are not presented as IELTS or TOEFL test preparation programs either. However, both have similar skill sets to IELTS and aim to improve test results.

English Discoveries uses an eclectic mix of international accents. Planet English generally uses American and British accents. Both programs can be switched between American and British English.

Reading is also facilitated, but the writing skills aspect of both programs needs improvement. They have material on basics such as writing letters and filling out forms, but do not attempt advanced writing.

Managers planning to introduce these products will need to consider the receptivity of their teachers. Teachers used to traditional methods of classroom teaching may be reluctant to change teaching styles, although teachers experienced in language laboratories should be more receptive.

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Users

These are not off-the-shelf products to use straight away. They are for professional educators who will have many different approaches to language teaching. Their flexibility means staff need training and time to program the systems to fit their teaching, but the programs have great long-term functionality as teachers become more skilled in their use.

The current generation of CD-ROM technology for language laboratories makes the previous generation of cassette tape laboratories obsolete. English Discoveries and Planet English use Local Area Networks (LAN) for laboratory-based training. They target commercial and education system providers of English. The programs offer expensive but potentially cost-effective approaches for universities, technical colleges, schools, commercial language training centers, and in-house training centers.

The products are appropriate for large-scale operations with capital to fit out language laboratories, income to cover licensing fees, computer support and professional teachers to deliver the training. With a high volume of students, the programs can provide the basis for profitable businesses.

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User Friendliness

The two programs have similar Pentium II-level computer requirements that are far below personal computer standards now prevailing internationally. Hardware costs derive from the numbers of computer workstations connected to the server. English Discoveries does not advise the limit in its handbooks. Planet English can manage over 100 users per server. Planet Learning recommends the use of Planet English-trained technicians to install it. A competent technician familiar with networking can install English Discoveries from CD-ROM.

For teachers, these are complex, but innovative products that need some time to learn. Planet English offers more programming potential, but requires more time to learn to full effect.

For students, both programs are clear and easy to navigate. English Discoveries makes heavy use of cartoons and slightly gimmicky graphics and topics that will appeal to younger school age users. Planet English uses more formal tabs and layout that will appeal more to older users.

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Interactivity

The interactive audio aspects of both programs are an excellent way of improving listening and speaking skills. Many students of English have difficulty hearing different English accents and lack the necessary confidence to speak English. Both programs allow students to hear native speakers of English using functional English for everyday situations. At their own pace, students record and playback their own voices privately and compare results with the originals.

Both programs also give students good feedback on performance through bar graphs of test results and from audio recordings.

Both operate with high resolution on smaller than normal screen size. The quality of the Planet English graphics is superior as it uses some 400 video dialogues. English Discoveries uses static cartoons rather than video.

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Sustainability

These are complex programs to install, use and service. Users need technical support for the computer system and professional English language trainers to operate the learning packages and teach the students.

The Planet English license fee includes technical support and backup, which are available on-line and annual updates. Anti-piracy software protects license-holders.

In some institutional settings, such as schools and universities with government funding, many of the costs will be absorbed into existing budgets.

In purely commercial applications, business modeling is needed. As these are high quality, best practice products, student fees can be set at the upper end of the English language market. With high fees and large student numbers, the packages can be commercially viable.

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