INTRO VIDEO
MORE ON THE GAME AND THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT
ABOUT ME
Adam Wiseman
I TEACH ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES IN THE WATERLOO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD IN ONTARIO, CANADA, WHERE I BEGAN AS A FRENCH TEACHER. MY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS COME FROM EVERY REGION OF THE WORLD AND SPEAK DOZENS OF LANGUAGES.
PRIOR TO RETURNING TO CANADA, I TAUGHT VARIOUS MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY AND GRADES 2 AND 4 IN AMERICAN CURRICULUM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN ASIA, WHERE I LIVED FOR 12 YEARS.
CURRENTLY IN MY 20TH YEAR OF TEACHING, I'M STILL PASSIONATE ABOUT LEARNING AND TEACHING LANGUAGES, AND ABOUT FINDING INNOVATIVE NEW WAYS OF HELPING KIDS LEARN.
AS A LANGUAGE LEARNER MYSELF, I'VE OFTEN WISHED I HAD A TOOL LIKE LMNTree ENGLISH TO HELP ME MASTER A NEW LANGUAGE, AND I KNOW MY STUDENTS (AND YOURS) WILL BENEFIT FROM IT AS THEY TRANSITION TO THEIR NEW LIVES.
a game-changing new kind of language immersion for kids
WHAT IS LMNTree English?
Currently under development, L.M.N. Tree English is an immersive educational language-teaching simulation game for children.
It's designed to support children who are new to English in elementary schools, who struggle
to learn the listening and speaking skills required for participation in school life.
WHY IS LMNTree NEEDED?
These social language skills are best learned in context, but in most classrooms, students are overwhelmed with the amount and complexity of unknown language they encounter, and by the anxiety and confusion they feel coping with life in an unfamiliar environment. These factors can delay the development of basic interpersonal communication skills (B.I.C.S.*), and prolong the "silent period" many English Language Learners exhibit. ( Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills, Cummins 1979)
HOW WILL LMNTree HELP STUDENTS?
The game will teach vocabulary, expressions, and the structures and patterns which are key to functioning in daily life in an English-speaking environment .
L.M.N.Tree English seeks to present natural-sounding, practical, usable language in an engaging format that makes the input more comprehensible to the learner: a role-playing video game app for tablet and mobile, offering solid pedagogical content in a fun, visually attractive context that mimics real life.
The teaching content supports the learner's comprehension through explanation, selective translation, repetition, and practice games. It even permits the learner to practice speaking and improving new language aloud without fear of embarrassment.
In order to make this tool as useful for learners and English teachers alike, I'm asking for your ideas, and your constructive criticism.
PLEASE WATCH THE INTRODUCTORY VIDEOS BELOW, AND VISIT THE BLOG / COMMENT PAGE TO SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK. THANK YOU FOR INTEREST!
PLEASE WATCH & LISTEN
INTRODUCTORY VIDEO
Rationale & Background on the Project
Game Preview Video
A Sample of What the Game Will Look Like, and its Approach to Teaching Language
YOUR FEEDBACK
A Moderated Blog, where you can leave your impressions and ideas about how to make the game better.
GAME PREVIEW
SEE A SHORT SAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE PLANNING