AdvanceWork introduces first mobile-training courses for English Live instruction and portability are key features of courses for HP, Compaq and Casio Pocket PCs

AdvanceWork International, a training solutions provider to global corporations, today announced the availability of Professional English, a Pocket PC-based, mobile training series for business professionals who need English fluency.

The world’s first mobile-learning English series, Professional English combines live, one-to-one conversation practice with native English-speaking instructors and multimedia lessons on a Pocket PC. Using Professional English, corporate students can learn English without ever sitting at a computer or going to a class. Courses run on Windows-powered Pocket PCs including the CasioCassiopeia, the Compaq Ipaq, and the Hewlett Packard Jornada. The first three courses in the series—Beginner 2, Intermediate 1, and Intermediate 2—are now available. Advanced-level courses will be released in November.

"Mobile learning solves a problem inherent in traditional and web-based courses—how to fit learning into a busy, fragmented lifestyle. E-learning ties students to the desktop, while Professional English makes the experience completely mobile. We think the system has applicability to other corporate soft-skills training as well," observed Larry Rothenberg, President and CEO of AdvanceWork.

Pilot Course Successful

Today’s launch follows an extensive pilot program involving 150 executives from 35 companies. Most were unfamiliar with the Pocket PC and mobile learning before beginning the pilot. After three weeks, 85 percent of the students surveyed were comfortable using the Pocket PC and 86 percent reported they enjoyed the live conversation calls with the instructor. Several of participants elected to continue the course after the pilot.

"This is the first English course that makes me want to practice. My English improved very quickly when I talked with the teacher by phone. The Pocket PC is fun. I would like to see all of my employees learning this way," said Ravey Castillo of Marconi-Mexico.

According to Tuula Tiihonen, from KPMG-Finland, "I enjoyed using the Pocket PC. I had it with me while I was making a business trip, and it made it easy to begin studies at home. The telephone conversations were extremely interesting, and of a great help when I was trying to improve my English skills."

Professional English

Students begin Professional English with an online placement test followed by a live, oral proficiency evaluation by phone. Each 40-hour course provides eight units of study and includes live conversation practice by phone with an AdvanceWork instructor after each unit, typically weekly. Courses teach natural conversation skill and offer a balanced learning approach that includes vocabulary (500 words per course), grammar, listening, reading, pronunciation, culture and usage. Each self-paced course takes 10-12 weeks to complete.

The portable Pocket PC makes Professional English an engaging, multimedia experience, with full-color images, audio and the ability to record and replay the student’s spoken phrases. Lessons present a series of activities, tasks, and exercises, including conversation simulations, to teach new language skills. At the end of each unit, the instructor and student have a focused conversation by phone. Following the call, the instructor provides detailed comments on areas for improvement and review.

Professional English is available direct from AdvanceWork International. Contact: John Sheldon, Director of Corporate Sales, jsheldon@advancework.com, 315-443-2261, or visit www.advancework.com for more information.


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