Abstract

Worldwide, renowned institutions are striving to accelerate successful language learning programs that result in reliable, language-fluent graduates. This can be difficult at best. We believe that an Internet-based language learning tool like Read~Verse Company’s Lesson~Designer can significantly assist both instructors and students in successfully meeting their objectives. A description of this advanced software solution follows:

Keywords: Tools for teaching Arabic, Chinese,

Japanere

1. Introduction

Lesson~Designer is a new, Internet-based, software system that offers significant benefits to language instructors, students, and school administration. Developed using leading edge, Internet-based software, Lesson~Designer is designed to alleviate many of the tedious and costly aspects of teaching. Once an instructor composes class material (lessons, tests with answers, etc.), the data is entered into the system. Lesson~Designer automatically codes the information, and at the instructor’s command, makes the material available to each respective student. The student completes the lesson, and then takes a test. Lesson~Designer then grades the test, and sends the results back to the instructor or, if the instructor so wishes, to the instructor and the student. Stringent protective security measures are built into the system; students will not be able to access quiz answers. Lessons can be modified and enhanced at the discretion of the instructor whenever and as often as he/she feels necessary. Lesson~Designer will simply note and incorporate the change(s) into the updated material. Thus, without the delays, the costs of reproduction and distribution, and the time spent marking examinations; instructors can reduce costs and utilize their professional time more effectively in planning and improving course material and instruction methods and communicating directly with students.

2. Lesson~Designer includes these functions:

4 The complete contents of a lesson.

4 A list of questions (multiple choices, fill in, true or false).

4 The correct answers. Lesson~Designer automatically marks and grades the test(s) with options to send the results to an instructor only, the student and instructor, or to other recipients.

4 Lesson~Designer keeps track of all of the lessons that a student takes with date, time, and grades.

4 It will keep track of all of the lessons an instructor created with date and time.

4 An instructor can copy a foreign language, English text, or a combination of both, and paste and store it.

4 An instructor will be able to copy an existing lesson, and/or create new ones.

4 The system also includes multi language vocabulary lists.

4 Lesson~Designer correctly displays multiple languages without special keyboards or configurations for the recipient’s P.C.

4 Lesson~Designer has an Arabic abacus that enables the typing of Arabic without installing special software. Abacuses for other languages can be provided for an additional fee.

4 Lesson~Designer frees teachers from spending considerable time on administrative tasks. It handles them automatically.

3. Lesson Designer will provide the following services:

4 An instructor can create a new lesson, update an existing lesson(s), or copy and paste to create a new one.

4 Practice sessions to drill students can be created with Lesson~Designer.

4 Instructors can create student placement tests.

4 An author of a lesson can charge a royalty fee for lessons.

4 An instructor can edit a lesson before publishing them.

4 An instructor can print one or many lessons.

4 The instructor and/or administrator must authorize access to each lesson.

4 Plus many additional services

4. Lesson~Designer has various additional operational efficiency features that include:

4.1 Deployment:

Assuming a significant number of copies of software are globally maintained on your network, it is very costly and time consuming to keep user systems current on the latest release(s) of each language software text editor. Lesson~Designer needs to be updated only once on the Internet at which point it is available globally for all users.

4.2 Compatibility:

There are 16 different character sets that Microsoft supports for each of different Arabic speaking countries. If, to cite an example, a user in Egypt composed a letter that is sent to his counter part in Iraq, it is highly probable that the recipient will not be able to comprehend the letter due to differences in character sets. With Lesson~Designer there is no compatibility problem because of the use of a universal Arabic character set.

4.3 Cost:

The production and distribution of class materials usually involve considerable costs. With Lesson~Designer and its utilization of the Internet, these costs are minimized. Instructors can compose, update, manipulate, and distribute course materials without prohibitive, conventional costs

4.4 Standard:

Each Arabic text editor has it’s own standard procedures and "short cuts" that make maintaining one standard very difficult. With Lesson~Designer a standard is built into the system.

4.5 Accessibility:

A stand-alone PC system that has a foreign language text editor will require accessing that computer to compose a document in that language. With Lesson~Designer, it is accessible globally via the Internet.

4.6 Training:

Moving staff from one country to another may require additional training for using a new text editor. With Lesson~Designer orientation is required only once because of the use of the universal character set.

4.7 Administrative:

Lesson~Designer, residing on the server, provides centralized administrative control in determining the delivery and fulfillment of class objectives, leading to tighter awareness and assurance that curriculums are being followed, and promised syllabuses are being delivered. This facilitates the maintenance of continuing, high education standards.

5. Now, in summary what is so unique about Lesson~Designer?

4 Lesson~Designer is Internet-based; no additional software is required.

4 Teachers can focus on teaching. They need not concern themselves with administrating tasks.

4 Language sets are included. Teachers need not install language character sets.

4 There is only one universal character set on Lesson~Designer for each language. Thus, teachers and learners can communicate globally (this solves the complex issue of 16 different country character sets in the Arabic Language).

4 For instructors there is no license fee for Lesson~Designer. While there is a monthly fee per student, there is no required minimum.

4 Lesson~Designer has an advanced Arabic abacus for typing Arabic letters and words using a mouse on the internet. Competitive software requires both teachers and students to memorize the keyboard combination to type vowels (Tashkeel)

4 Lesson~Designer includes most languages. There is no need to install additional language character sets on the receiver machines.

4 An additional advantage to Lesson~Designer is that no matter how many users there are locally or worldwide, only one copy of Lesson~Designer is required for each server in the network.

6. Multi language Capability

We are pleased to announce our development of an exciting and important technology breakthrough; one that enhances the capability of truly teaching worldwide.

Lesson~Designer now includes a new, powerful, multi-language handling feature. As we know, language barriers can seriously limit the effectiveness of reaching students worldwide, or, from a defense or international business standpoint can seriously affect information gathering and the conducting of business.

To solve this dilemma expensive solutions may require communicants around the world to communicate not only in English but all foreign languages. Even if we accept this expensive, unrealistic solution, the recurring replacement and rotation of staff and the resultant language training required will be time consuming and expensive.

Another solution would be to communicate with email messages. Here, however, the recipient (a sales executive, for example) would be at the risk of not being able to read the sent text due to incompatible language character sets.

Still another solution would be to install all anticipated language character sets (another costly investment) on a recipient’s personal computer. Once anyone on the receiving end opens a foreign language email message the text will most likely be illegible, forcing the recipient to try different character sets for decoding the received message. Even then it is probable that the message will not be sufficiently legible and, equally critical, a crucial business opportunity or key information could be lost. Precious time wasted attempting to decode an illegible message could be a key factor in failing to secure a lucrative deal or making a strategic decision. With Lesson~Designer information will be legible at once.

Lesson~Designer, then, is an effective and efficient solution. It requires only a native language digital keyboard on the sender’s end and an Internet connection. A sender’s message typed in his/her own native language will be kept character-intact until the recipient accesses that message. Thus, non-English speaking students, customers, suppliers, information sources and agents - Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Greek – using their respective language digital keyboard, can use Lesson~Designer for typing and sending a note in their own native language.

No matter what language keyboard or system configuration is utilized, with Lesson~Designer the receiver receives the same characters that the sender types. No special character receiver sets are required on the receiving end. Lesson~Designer, which resides on the server, permits the acceptance of “strange” character sets. Thus, while most systems require both receiver and sender to have the same language handling “configuration”, with Lesson~Designer, it does not matter what character set the sender or receiver is using. Why? Because Lesson~Designer was designed from the ground up as an Internet-based system and not as a local PC-based system. As the sender types a message, Lesson~Designer retains those characters intact as written. Also, implicit in the design of Lesson~Designer are powerful security measures.

7. The Koran Databases

For Arabic students who wish to gain a more profound and thorough understanding of the Muslim psyche and culture, Read~Verse also offers, on-line, with several, powerful search engines, its Koran database.

7.1 Over 17,000 Arabic Words and Arabic Word Roots

Read~Verse based its powerful Arabic learning database on the most widely consulted book in the Middle East, The Koran, said by scholars to be the complete, technical source for Arabic language. As with the King James Version of the Bible and its influence on English, the Koran is a treasury of Arabic literature that has kept the Arabic language alive and vibrant. With this dynamically rich resource we are able to offer students online, through the Internet, an abundant Arabic vocabulary list of over 17,000 words (the average person's vocabulary is in the range of 5,000 words) with sentences that illustrate the usage of these words. In addition the database includes Arabic word roots for over17, 000 words, making it the largest offering of Arabic word roots on the Internet.

7.2 Read~Verse has several search engines

That can help students find correct information about the Koran immediately in real time. Instructors can assign a translation task to one or many students to critique the translations of 4 different authors against the Arabic text. There are up to 6236 unique, critiquing tests for students. This unique teaching tool with its huge database was designed to provide Arabic instructors with a very large volume of materials for testing the competence of Arabic-learning students at any level. Again, the huge database is based on what is considered the ultimate testing document in Arabic, the Koran. Students who can proficiently translate a verse from the Koran to English can be said to have a command of the Arabic Language.

8. Now, you may legitimately ask, what is so unique about Read~Verse suite software?

Read~Verse suite is unique because:

4 Read~Verse is Internet-based; no additional software is required

4 Teachers can focus on teaching. They need not concern themselves with administrating software.

4 Language sets are included. Teachers need not install language character sets.

4 There is only one universal character set on Read~Verse for each language. Thus teachers and learners can communicate globally (this solves the complex issue of 16 different, country character sets in the Arabic Language).

4 Read~Verse software is free for all teachers. While there is a charge is per month per student, there is no required minimum.

4 Read~Verse provides the root and the usage of over 17,000 Arabic words.

4 Read~Verse has an advanced Arabic abacus for typing Arabic letters and words using a mouse on the internet. Competitive software requires both teachers and students to memorize the keyboard combination to type vowels (Tashkeel).

4 In time Lesson~Developer will include most languages, and there maybe no need to install additional language character sets.

4 Read~Verse includes powerful search engines that enable users to efficiently search the entire Koran:

4 In English by topic.

4 In Arabic with one word, two words or by topic

4 In English or Arabic by chapter and verse number

Students and teachers can use 6234 tests for critiquing the translation from Arabic text to 4 different English translations.

9. Conclusions

4 A school administration will be better able to manage, administer and evaluate the quality of its course curriculum, and by offering widening online classes, to expand its student base and enhance revenue.

4 Instructors can design and build class curriculums and update them instantly, thereby avoiding reprinting cost.

4 Instructors, with the responsibility of "delivering" class curriculums, will gain efficiency by not only having to constantly repeat proper usage sentence structure, but in being able to replicate their successful class materials as well

4 Students will be able to repeat a lesson where and as often as they wish. In addition, with instructor approval, they can take quizzes with the software marking their answers. This will facilitate and expedite the learning process.

4 Lesson~Designer supports multi-language environments. Special keyboards and/or configurations are not required to receive foreign language character sets.

For additional information, please visit

http://www.lessondesigner.com/ and http://www.readverse.com/

About the Authors

Mahmoud Elsayess, President

Mr. Elsayess has over 35 years as an Information Technology professional. His technical and managerial background include expertise and experience with IE/IEF(CASE), IMS/DB/DC, IDMS/R, ORACLE, DB2, MS ACCESS, COBOL, Visual Basic, MQSeries (Client \ Server) HTML, Java, C++, and ASP. He is also proficient in PHP, MYSQL, Apache, and Flash. Senior responsibilities with an impressive array of renowned organizations including The Auto Club of Southern California, IBM, Deloitte, Touche, Computer Sciences Corporation, American Express, Hughes Aircraft, ITT, and the County of Los Angeles have provided Mahmoud with the background and professional expertise to assure that all Read~Verse products will be imbued with the latest technology and developments. With Master Degrees in both Computer Sciences and Business Administration, he has been teaching since 1999 classes on the Internet and database design at various prestigious universities in the Western United States.

Arnold Silverman, Vice President

Mr. Silverman brings to Read~Verse over 40-years of computer systems experience. His knowledge and expertise with application software gained from senior management responsibilities with some of the world's largest companies provide a rich resource for Read~Verse. His national and international senior Sales and Marketing responsibilities for several renowned companies including ITT, McDonnell Douglas and C. Itoh & Co. Ltd. will provide Read~Verse an experienced and knowledgeable hand as it moves into the public arena. Arnold has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University and a MBA in Marketing from CCNY.

Comments and feedback are welcome, and should be directed to:

Mahmoud Elsayess, President

MahmoudElsayess@lessondesigner.com

Arnold Silverman, Vice President

ArnieSilverman@lessondesigner.com

Read~Verse Company

References

Read~Verse has several search engines that can help your students to immediately find correct information about the Koran. Another benefit is that you can assign a translation task to one or many of your students to critique the translations of 4 different authors against the Arabic text. You can have up to 6236 unique critiquing tests for your students. This unique teaching tool with its huge database was designed to provide Arabic instructors with a very large volume of materials for testing the competence of Arabic learning students at any level. The huge database is based on what is considered the ultimate testing document in Arabic, and that is the Quran. Students who can proficiently translate a verse from the Quran to English can be said to have a command of the Arabic Language.

These several powerful search engines for the Koran that can be found on: http://www.readverse.com/