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Widgets Inc.: A task-based course in workplace English 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 quite unlike other textbook courses you may have used before. For example, lessons are organized according to task complexity rather than language difficulty, and their primary goal is appropriate communication instead of grammatical accuracy.

Widgets is a 'real-world-like' workplace simulation course. Students imagine being interns working for a fictional start-up company. They are placed into small groups and follow an engaging product development cycle over six stages. The course is designed to be compatible with a wide range of English proficiency levels, including mixed-level classes. It works best in a class of 12-40 motivated adults who meet for a minimum of 30 ninety-minute sessions. However, 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 Full Lesson Plans in the sidebar for sample lesson plans.

The print version (120 pp., A4 paperback, full color) is available from the following distributors: englishbooks.jp

Widgets 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.

Course concepts

Teams

Students in the Widgets course are placed into small teams of 3-5 members. These teams cannot be changed easily, so be sure to select teams carefully.

Project Manager

For each stage, a different team member is selected to act as project manager for that stage.

Paperwork

Students are assessed in part via can-do statements which are built into the simulation as "employee evaluations" on pages titled Paperwork. Course assessments include other forms of self assessment, peer assessment, and instructor assessments.

Video calls

The course includes streamed videos, which requires an internet connection to stream or for initial download. The video comprises about 15 clips which total about 30 minutes. Most video clips simulate conference calls made by Widgets executives instructing teams on their next project. These are at an authentic level of English, and are meant to be viewed for gist, at least initially. Students should watch them in teams, and then turn to each other and discuss the question, "What is the boss asking us to do?"

The video is not DRM protected, and is under a CC-BY-NC-ND license, which means that it may be copied and shared for non-commercial purposes without modification.

Watercooler chats

The watercooler chat is an optional and informal ongoing task in Widgets, helping students to get used to using English in casual situations.