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Welcome to Kalinago English Print E-mail

an adventure in language learning  awaits... 

Kalinago English is the host website for SimplyConversationsTM: innovative, pedagogically sound and simple-to-use materials designed to provoke engaging conversations within your language classroom.  They come in individual, lexically organized sets which language trainers and/or their institutes can easily download.

The key idea behind SimplyConversationsTM is that effective communication in a foreign language only happens when students' motivation to speak is greater than their fear of making mistakes.  For this to happen they need to be interested in the topics and the topics need to authentic, relevant and clearly connected to their lives.

The system is supported by Conversation ControlTM sheets which have been designed to raise language awareness.  These are available below, free of charge, in .pdf format.

SimplyConversationsTM  is only available on-line.  Each set consists of 15 prompt cards and a SimplyQuestTM post-task activity.

Click here for an introduction of the pedagogical methods utilized to create the materials, as well as extra how-to instructions, free samples and the opportunity to purchase and download by key subject area.

You can also watch a teacher training video about using conversation in the classroom or a video  demonstrating the system in use.

By early 2009, the materials will also be supported by the SimplyC.wikiTM: tips, tricks and references to other supplementary material.

Kalinago English is also a platform for showing off the best materials and services in the language learning industry.   For students and their trainers, there will be a marketplace available where you can access more details.  

And...there will also be forums, lists of super links and updates on news and items of interest happening around the world (for you to read in easy English) so feel free to browse around the different sections of the website and discover more of what's on/going to be soon on offer.

Why the name Kalinago English? The word Kalinago, like so many of the words we use in the English language has a fascinating history, one which crosses cultural and language borders, involving the paradoxes of discovery and adventure but also tells the story of how mispronunciation of a word can lead to confusion and misconception.  With this in mind, it seemed the perfect choice... click here to find out more.

Karenne Sylvester, the author, is an experienced language trainer originally from the Caribbean, a teacher trainer and writer.  Click here to find out more. 






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    Mission Statement 

    Kalinago English will participate in improving the usage of English and other languages globally. We will do so by presenting a website aimed at students and teachers which offers great advice on materials, e-materials and learning/teaching methods.

    Kalinago English is the host site for the language learning material, Simply Conversations, created by Karenne Joy Sylvester.

    Although set up with a sound framework as an e-commerce company, its purpose is not only to create an alternate income for the business and main author, but also to provide the first peer-2-peer marketplace whereby other language teachers can share and be paid for their work and materials.  

     

    We hope to create an exciting community of knowledge between language trainers who are 100% committed to providing up-2-date, quality materials for their students.   

     

    Also, it is our goal to operate as a successful social entrepreneurship which is able to raise funding for a number of charities, non-profit organizations and concerns.

     

    Our educational aims and objectives are to: 

     

    Students

    1. provide language students with common sense strategies for learning English and other languages. 

    2. create an ever-changing list of quality and interesting links designed for the English language learner.

    3. develop a permanent list of great books, activities, websites and podcasts which enhance the language learning experience.

    4. set up a community of language learners who can comfortably share experiences and ideas as well as get advice from others.

    5. offer a platform where students can easily access free materials, publishers websites, bookshops and much, much more...

    Teachers

    1. supply language teachers with ideas, tips and strategies for becoming even better teachers of EFL, ESOL and ESL as well as other languages. 

    2. create an ever-changing list of interesting links aimed at creating quality lessons for the language learner.

    3. develop a permanent list of great books, activities, websites and podcasts which enhance our students' language learning experience.

    4. set up a community of language teachers who can share experiences, tips and ideas as well as get advice from others.

    5. offer a platform where teachers can easily find access to quality free materials, publishers websites, bookshops and much, much more...

    6. produce our own quality materials which can be sold or exchanged with our peers.

    Kalinago English has a strong give-back philosophy and 8% of the cost price of the SimplyConversations sheets will go to a number of charitable concerns, non-profit organizations and freeware developers. 

    Updates on this activity can be tracked via the blog.


     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     
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