THE E:P:N CLASSROOM: The better C.A.L.L. lab

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THE EPN CLASSROOM The better C.A.L.L. lab

• a new concept ofseating arrangements to
• combine the GT and CL processes to
• FACILITATE FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING
• a 3-sector, 3-phase research project of
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________
• EPN-CCC, the EPN Classroom Consortium of China,
  Inc

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E P N
REAL-LIFE DIVERSITY TRAINING . . . THROUGH UNIQUE

• seating arrangements that copy
• STABLE ATOMS.
• This classroom is tailored for 45 learners and
  uses the first four atomic elements as role
  models of behavior
• H hydrogen (E1P1)
• D deuterium (E1P1N1)
• He helium (E2P2N2)
• Li lithium (E3P3N3)

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10 GROUPS (2 Li, 2 He, 3 D 3 H)
N
N
P
E
P
E
Scanner, etc.
E
E
C
C
P
C
C
P
C
C
N
N
N
N
P
T Teachers
E
P
E
T
T

S
E
P
N
P
C
C
C
E
P
E
C
C
E
P
E
45 students 4 types of power structures (2x9,
2x6, 3x3, 3x2)
N
P
N
P
E
P
C
E
N
N
P
C
C
C
C
E
P
E
N
E
N
P
C16 computers
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EPN DEFINITIONS

• MACRO level
• E Electron manufacturing/technical
  development
• P Proton marketing/entrepreneurial selling
• N Neutron Human Resource develop/management
• MICRO level
• E the worker of a family
• P the prime decision-maker
• N a tutor/counselor hired to help with
  children, etc.

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During the first and last part of sessions,
learners group in this configuration to evaluate
sayings according to the EPN categories EPN,
EP, PN, E, P, or N
P
E
P
CATEGORY SEATING
E
E
P
P
E
E
P
P
E
T Teachers
E
T
t
T
T
P
E
P

S
P
E
E
P
C
C
C
E
P
E
P
E
N
N
P
E
E
N
P
N
E
P
P
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
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EPN setup procedure

• Homework Look up (in dictionary)
• ELECTRON
• PROTON
• NEUTRON
• (H) hydrogen, (D) deuterium,
• (He) helium, and (Li) lithium
• Select a preference in (atomic)
• Characteristics
• Impact on surroundings
• Responsibilities
• Prepare to report (in any language)
• Why chosen
• For what period of time
• With what reliability factor
• (50 100) to rate the strength of their
  commitment . . . their perceived resolve and,
  therefore, market value
• In class (the next day or week)

• Students
• make 45 signs (16 Es 16 Ps 13 Ns)
• select a temporary seat, then
• create a group report of their atoms unique
  nature, impact, and responsibilities to the unit
• exchange reports with other like groups, note
  discrepancies, and come to a consensus
• Teacher
• records their presentations (for the research
  archives AND their parents)
• checks everyones understanding of each atoms
  nature and impact on self and others
• conducts the vote on how long the current seating
  is to be adhered to a week? Month? Semester?
  Year? Full two years?
• has students sign a contract (that they agree to
  role play their self-chosen part for the duration
  of the agreed-upon period of time (a renewable
  contract with a 3-lesson cancellation clause)
• praises students for taking on these new
  responsibilities and offers ongoing help

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EPN outcomes (measured against past
performance scores)

• Better math scores through better reading
  comprehension (researched to be enhanced by the
  regular use of the C-Test).
• Better communication skills through practice in
  negotiating values and strategies, and reaching a
  consensus (judged through a peer evaluation)
  solicited at the end of each contract period.
• Better grades on all language-related subjects
  through increased oral production of language
  during negotiation tasks (in class, at home, and
  via e-mail, phone, and/or other electronic
  devices).
• Superior motivation, which is researched to be
  present whenever young learners get to choose
  their own learning style, curriculum, and their
  associated responsibilities.
• The EPN procedure is also a mini lesson in
  physics, which is expected to increase a
  learners interest in, and love for, this finest
  of fields for developing cognitive and
  contemplative prowess (thinking skills).

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Excerpt from training slide 1
Communicative learning--communicative language
acquisition--is now well researched and
documented to be the most effective and efficient
way of developing abilities into skills and
skills into knowledge and, thereby, confidence.
Todays first memory peg is ASK--the shuffled
acronym of the industry term, KSA. The Human
Resource departments throughout the country use
KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) as the
full spectrum of the learning process. In
EPN-based language acquisition, we ASK . . . we
affirm the presence of ability first. So, dont
start by impressing one another with your
knowledge, start your day with questions. ASK!
Children do it . . . and they are said to
inherit the earth one day. In Christian
Scripture, Mat 77 (NIV), it states, "Ask and it
will be given to you. In that version, the
keyword ASK is used 776 times. Lets add our
acronym to it and have a full 777 occurrences.
Thatll also help us remember Mat 77, right? (Go
to the HABITS chart and find appropriate entries,
meaning find statements dealing with asking
and decide if and to what extent you wish to
train them.) Homework Find a definition for
Communicative Language Acquisition that you like,
then memorize it and prepare a dialogue that asks
and answers two contrasting questions. (Think of
contrasting questions coming from Electrons and
Protons and remember to add the voice of a
neutron who sees validity in both arguments.) Add
research if you know how.
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SUMMARY LINKS

• Highlights (a summary)
• The learners contract
• C-Test research
• ClozeOnline (the C-Test site)
• Sample C-test rubric
• Misc. letters and explanations
• The EPN site (for fun)
• WEBs archives of bilingual sayings
• Habits a la carte (BlumEnterprise.org)