About the Aspects of English Teaching website

Who is this website for?

[To be revised:] The website has been created in a joint effort between publicly funded contributors. As such it is available for anyone to use in compliance with the conditions set out near the end of this page. Its intended audience are English teachers in Norway and their teachers. Our hope is that the web site may inspire school teachers, students who will be school teachers, and Higher Education (i.e. University and University College/Høgskole) teachers to reflect on their own practices.

Website structure and how to use it

[To be revised:] This website consists of a main, front page, referred to as the Main index, and a number of pages concerning specific topics. Each topic has a topic index introducing the topic. The topics can be studied independently of each other or together, and in any order.

In the prototype version, the internal structure of each topic reflects to some extent its history. Most topics have a similar structure: A front page for the topic contains text which introduces the topic and an index of the video sequences within the topic. Accompanying each video is a page with issues that the reader is encouraged to consider before, during, and/or after viewing the video. Most of the time, a video sequence and its accompanying issues constitute a separate sub topic and these can be viewed in any order.

A different structure is found in the topic "Writing from different perspectives". In this, the reader is sequentially guided from the topic index through alltogether four main pages with sub topics. The video sequences are linked from these pages.

More on how to view the videos

A few remarks on the technology needed to view the videos may be helpful, especially for those witout access to advice from someone who knows their specific setup. These are intended as general hints only. A technical support person where you are will know much more about what you need. (A note on terminology: In the below, the word PC indicates that the instruction concerns computers in a PC network. The word computer indicates that it probably applies to other kinds of networks too. If you don't know the difference, please treat the two as synonymous.)

Technical prerequisites

As this website is built around practical examples demonstrated through video sequences you need to be able to view the videos and listen to the speech on them. This means you need a computer which is connected to the internet and which has working loudspeakers and a program that can view videos in either streamed or MPEG format (this may exclude the video viewer that accompanies many versions of Windows). You can download a free video viewing program from here. (Please note that they advertise a lot for a viewer that costs some money so make sure you choose the free one unless you actually want the fancier one. Please also note if you don't want to receive advertising or support email from them that you need to carefully untick all boxes on the relevant screens, including some you have to scroll to see. You can change these later.) This video viewer can show both formats we provide the videos in: streamed ("Real") and download-first ("MPEG"). You may find, however, that in practice only one of the two formats works for you. You may also find that once you have successfully downloaded the viewer, you have to sit by the same PC next time to want to view a video sequence because the downloaded viewer rests on that specific machine (this applies to readers who have a choice of PCs).

Types of internet connections:
- If you have a choice of PCs to work from, try to get a high capacity (fast) one for viewing the videos (usually that means one of the newest PCs).
- The following tips apply to those who wish to work with this website from a computer which is not permanently connected to the internet (usually that means a computer you connect via a modem and your phone line, e.g. at home). You can choose to work on the website only while your computer is connected to the internet. However, if you have an unstable line (so you keep getting thrown out) or your phone bill is soaring, you can minimise your connection time by noting the following: Your computer only needs to be connected to the internet when you ask it to open a new page or view a video. Text pages will remain in your browser for a while after you disconnect. You may also print out pages and keep them on paper. For the videos you need to remain connected while the video is downloading. For the streamed format that means while viewing, while for MPEG that means during your initial download (when you're making your cup of tea). You may be able to view a downloaded MPEG video offline. If you are, it is because a complete copy has been stored on your computer and you can view the same video as many times as you like without downloading it again.

What to do

The video sequences are provided in a choice of formats, i.e. the same sequence is provided in different technical versions. Click on the one that best corresponds to the technical setup where you are viewing them from. If you don't know what to choose, ask a technical support person or just try one by clicking on it and see if it works for you.

Please note, however, that viewing videos over the internet consumes a substantial amount of network capacity. In other words: Do expect things to take time. That is, the time from clicking on a video link until it starts showing could be several minutes. In this period you're adviced to let your computer work on this only and not to use it for anything else, unless someone who knows your technical setup advices you otherwise (starting other activities, even if your computer lets you, may lengthen your waiting time). A great time to make yourself a cup of tea or to stretch. Once the video sequence starts showing, you should be able to hear the words sufficiently clearly to discern what is being said. The image should in most cases move smoothly (in the prototype there are a few sequences where the images jar, but the voices are clear).

(Pedagogical idea behind the website)

[There could be text or a link here to explain issues such as why a website, why Norwegian teachers, why a focus on methods, why is it all in English.]

(Ideas for incorporating the website into teaching)

[This would be more for teachers of future students, and say something about using this in other ways than intended, e.g. by picking bits out and using in other contexts.]

[Teachers with experience in using this or related websites could be invited to share their experiences, except it is not clear that anyone will be able to collect, edit and publish these when the project is over.]

Permissions to use

About the development project

[To be revised:] This website is the result of a project in which HE teachers within the Norwegian Høgskole system who all teach English teachers have collaborated to produce video material of classroom teaching of English. Material for the various parts of which this website consists have been recorded by the contributors. Many have also edited the material themselves and provided the accompanying texts and tasks. The material has been gathered and finalised at Høgskolen i Oslo (Oslo University College, OUC) by Kathryn Hermansen and Ninian Millar. Eevi Beck and others at OUC have provided assistance.

Funding was obtained from SOFF...

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