Widgets Inc.

Widgets: A task-based course in workplace English

Welcome to Widgets Inc., a different kind of communication course.

Widgets is an ESL/EFL course employing a communicative language teaching approach called task-based learning. Widgets employs a 'strong' version of TBL, which makes it unlike almost any other coursebook. For instance, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than by language forms, and their primary goal is developing communicative competency rather than grammatical accuracy.

Something else that makes Widgets truly different from other courses is its focus on creating a believable, “real-life” English-speaking environment in the classroom. Students imagine that they are interns at an exciting technology startup company, called Widgets Incorporated, where they must work together in small groups to perform various practical, yet fun, tasks. In this way, each classroom activity is realistically connected. All conversations, discussions, presentations, videos, and interviews have an authentic purpose, and build from one to the next.

This has several advantages:

Widgets recycles useful language and situations: Relevant vocabulary and sentences patterns, as well as communicative situations, naturally reappear again and again. This not only implicitly builds language proficiency, it also develops the confidence to use it in appropriate contexts.

It is well-suited for mixed-level classes: Since the course is organized by task complexity, clearly contextualized, and assessed on appropriate communicative goals, students at a wide range of levels are able to achieve meaningful outcomes.

It is easy to understand the purpose of activities: Widgets tasks are realistic and clearly connected, so that even less linguistically proficient students can always follow what is being asked of them; indeed, they can often predict what might come next.

It is motivating: Students appreciate the practical aspect of tasks, because more than just practicing English, they are also applying real-world skills. In our experience, this leads to greater participation, less use of L1 in the classroom and a decrease in absenteeism.

Although the course becomes more and more challenging across its six stages, we have found that students invariably do rise to the challenge and end up endorsing the approach with genuine enthusiasm. Over the ten years we have taught using Widgets, we have heard from numerous students and teachers about how Widgets was the most meaningful English course they had ever experienced.

We are sure you will also agree that Widgets is easy to use and fun to teach. However, since it is so different from other courses, we strongly recommend that you consider the entire course as a whole before beginning. Widgets is not the kind of book that you can just flip open on the first day of class; it requires some consideration, at least the first time you use it. In particular, because much of the work is in the form of in-class discussions, project preparation, and presentations, it is a good idea to think carefully about the timing of the full course. For example, a class of 40 students will take more than three times longer to give presentations than a class of 12.

Therefore, in order for you and your students to get the most out of Widgets, please do take some time to read over this wiki-based teacher's manual, and to familiarize yourself with the Widgets Inc. student book. We especially recommend that you consider in advance how the suggested Lesson Plans match up with your own schedule.

Generally speaking, we find that the course works best in a class of 12-40 motivated young adults who meet for a minimum of 30 ninety-minute sessions. This can be shortened or lengthened according to how large the class is, how fluent/confident the students are, and how flexible the teacher is about adapting the material. (See our suggested lesson plans in the sidebar for ideas).

The Widgets Inc. student book (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) is available from the following distributors: englishbooks.jp

Widgets Inc. is published by Atama-ii Books (2018) and was written by Marcos Benevides and Chris Valvona.

Stages

Stage 1 is the orientation stage. It introduces the company and a cast of fictional characters who interact with the class via authentic video scenes. At the end of Stage 1, students are put into project teams.

Stage 2 is the research and development stage in which students brainstorm product ideas. Working in teams, each student must produce a written product proposal and a video-recorded 'elevator pitch'.

Stage 3 is a management decision stage. Teams are given several product ideas and must select the best one to go into production. Each team then writes a short report and gives a poster presentation.

Stage 4 is the market research stage. Students are again given a new product under development, and must perform market research on it. They write a longer report and give a formal presentation.

Stage 5 is the advertising campaign stage. Students prepare a proposed marketing campaign for yet another product. They then prepare a handout and give a multimedia presentation outlining their campaign.

Stage 6 is the conclusion stage. Having completed their internship, teams are disbanded, and students must now prepare a resume and then interview for a promotion within the company.

Main Tasks

Each Widgets stage is punctuated by a main speaking and a main writing task which is related to that stage's topic. All tasks are sequentially connected, and increase in complexity as the students progress through the stages.