Here - EnglishAgenda - British Council

sequence during a day. We believed that the learners would value the face-tofacemode more highly than the other modes (based on their feedback and ourknowledge of their previous learning experiences). Therefore time spent on theface-to-face mode needed to outweigh or at least balance the amount of timespent on the other two modes. We also believed that an equal amount of timeneeded to be spent in the computer and self-study mode as we considered them tobe as beneficial as each other, and partly because of logistics in terms of space andstudent rotation between the modes. Lastly, we considered the optimal length of thesessions in each mode, which we felt varied according to learners’ level. Based onthis rationale, combined with the fact that the face-to-face mode was the ‘lead mode’,we devised the timetables for the four levels as seen in Table 2.Table 2: Timetables for the four levelsElementary and Pre-intermediateIntermediate and Upper-intermediateDuration of session Mode Duration of session Mode60 minutes Class 90 minutes Class60 minutes Computer/self-study 45 minutes Computer60 minutes Class 45 minutes Self-study60 minutes Self-study/computer 60 minutes Class60 minutes Class 30 minutes Computer30 minutes Self-studyDesigning for a suite of coursesIn our context a high percentage of the learners worked their way through the levelsoften from elementary to graduate from upper-intermediate. With these learnersin mind the content and design of the course altered in an effort to realise theirincreased abilities as language learners, to cater for their needs, to maintain theirinterest, and to fulfil our course aims, as in Figure 2.Figure 2: Course changes in terms of design and contentContentElementaryUpper-intermediateGreater emphasis on military contentGreater learner autonomyGreater skills focusDesignElementaryUpper-intermediateIncreased time spent in self-study and computer modesLonger classroom sessionsAdditional CD-ROMS and internet access in the larger centresA military blend | 179