web-based language training and related services the right the right time in the right place

Presentation Overview  Who are Abacus Communications?  What do we do?  Who is using our products?  How do we sell our products and services?

Who are Abacus Communications?  Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland  Irish-owned company  Design, develop and deliver world-class web-based learning solutions since 1996  Products meet international best practice standards  Over 50 man-years of software product development, software project management and multi-lingual content creation experience

Abacus CEO  J. Stephen Byrne, MPhil. (App. Ling.), HDip. in Ed., Dip. TEFLA, MIITD, has studied and worked in Asia, continental Europe and the British Isles over the past twenty years.  He has led courses at a number of multinational companies and plays an active part in the development of Flexible Learning Programmes. He has presented and published papers on the effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL).

Abacus Products  Let‘s Do Business web-based English for Business language course  Webschool; web-based General English programme  ClarityEnglish.com; web-based English for Academic Purposes course (IELTS)  Talking Your Language & Speaking your Language; modern languages for primary and second level schools  Tell me More Online; modern languages for adults

Key features of all products  Pedagogically sound as it is based on years of academic research both in Ireland and abroad  Specialised learning programmes  Technically reliable as it is widely adopted in companies and academic organisations throughout Europe.  Conforms to software industry standards (AICC/SCORM) so compatible with leading industry Learning Management System (LMS) platforms.AICC/SCORM

References “Very user friendly… the audio quality is excellent …. The lay out of the screen is excellent … there is a huge amount of language practice … phonology exercises are inventive … vocabulary; there are some gems of exercises” “The screen is useful, easy to navigate and allowing easy access to the toolbar should there be computer problems. The glossary is good, … The feedback is easy to understand and silent which makes it pleasant and not patronising. … “I have been showing the internet version you sent me to ….. She was very interested and.... the variety of exercises and means to carry them out (dragging, typing, etc) was also appreciated.” Abacus References

English software Course Syllabus Course Knowledge Shakespeare's Macbeth Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet Skills Development AuthorPlusPro - web-based Authoring Tools potatoes Writer's Toolkit Writing Frames StudyWiz - develops reading skills

Modern Language software Course Syllabus Course Knowledge – junior cycle & senior cycle Skills Development – 4 skills development potatoes//hotpot.uvic.ca/hot potatoes

Irish Language software Course Syllabus Course Knowledge - Skills Development – Junior Cycle & Senior Cycle potatoes//hotpot.uvic.ca/hot potatoes Listening & Speaking Reading & Writing

Abacus – Business Model  Annual Subscription Model Unlimited time Application Service Provider (hosted solutions) Fixed cost

Abacus – Reasons to integrate software into your teaching portfolio  Students will become more effective communicators in the target language; score higher in state examinations  Teachers know that the courses are based on latest research into learning and language theory; they are designed by a team of language experts; they can monitor students progress using the Learning Management tools; they can create new resources to add to the existing libraries; Abacus delivers in-service training programmes to enable the teacher to exploit the resources successfully;

Thank you for your attention Abacus Communications Ltd. The Digital Hub, 157 Thomas St, Dublin 8, Ireland Tel: Fax: