TESOL CALL Interest Section

Software List

Deborah Healey, Editor

Grammar

Basic English Fitness

Machine: Win
Publisher: Merit Audio Visual
Approximate single-unit price: 60
Purchase options: lab, network, site
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Drill and practice with troublesome points of grammar. Each sentence contains up to four underlined choices, one of which contains a common error in usage, diction, grammatical relationship, or punctuation. In response to a wrong answer, the program shows the corrected sentence and explains why it is right. Record-keeping. Windows 95/98/2000/XP; not verified for Vista. A demo can be downloaded from the website: http://www.meritsoftware.com/.

Churchill House First Certificate Program

Machine: Win
Publisher: Churchill House
Purchase options: freeware
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Download this free software program from http://www.churchillhouse.com/english/downloads.html to help students revise for the tricky "spot the error" question on the Cambridge First Certificate Exam (FCE). It's also suitable for intermediate and advanced students who want to work on their grammar.

Diascriptive Language Arts Development

Machine: Win
Publisher: Educational Activities Software
Approximate single-unit price: 400
Purchase options: lab, site
Level: Intermediate For: All but K-5
Description: Multimedia grammar program includes exercises on capitalization, punctuation, parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, compound sentences, and paragraph construction. Designed for native speakers, but usable with ESL. Includes diagnostic tests that determine the language arts skills of each student and prescribe what is needed for improvement. Thirty-six tutorial lessons, presented with voice and text, develop language arts concepts, evaluate performance at each level and redirect students to lower levels to help build skills or to higher levels to learn more advanced skills. Windows 98/NT/2000/XP: Mac OS 8 or OS 9.

Easy Writer

Machine: Win
Publisher: Software for Students
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Purchase options: lab, network, site
Level: Intermediate For: All but K-6
Description: This software was developed by an ESL teacher and features all authentic writing. It uses more than 85 essays written by ESL students in which the user has to find and correct the grammar errors. Essays range from high beginner to high intermediate. Users who want more help with grammar can access grammar help pages which will explain the rules and hyperlink to other sentences and paragraphs which exhibit the same type of error. Additional exercises and examples are in the accompanying text, "The Grammar HELP! Student Handbook," available from the author/publisher. New Easy Writer Deluxe includes audio stories as well.

EasyWriter Deluxe

Machine: Win
Publisher: Software for Students
Approximate single-unit price: 125
Purchase options: lab, network, site
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: This software was developed by an ESL teacher and features all authentic writing. Learners can listen to the essays first, then find and correct the grammar errors. Essays range from high beginner to high intermediate. Users who want more help with grammar can access grammar help pages which will explain the rules and hyperlink to other sentences and paragraphs which exhibit the same type of error. Additional exercises and examples are in the accompanying text, "The Grammar HELP! Student Handbook," available from the author/publisher.

Error Terror

Machine: Win
Publisher: Educational Software Products
Approximate single-unit price: 65
Purchase options: £40 each; lab
Level: Intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All
Description: Arcade-style game where the user has to shoot down errors in a constantly moving passage. Whether the user wins or loses, after each passage is completed, a list of errors, along with individual notes on each error, is presented to them, which can be printed off for reference. The 20 passages are graded for difficulty, and the program is fully authorable. British English in the passages that come with the program.

Essential English Fitness

Machine: Win
Publisher: Merit Audio Visual
See also Comenius
Approximate single-unit price: 40
Purchase options: lab, network, site
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All but K-6
Description: Multiple-choice program helps students cope with troublesome points of English grammar and usage. Record-keeping. Windows 95/98/2000/XP; not verified for Vista. Networkable. A demo can be downloaded from the website: http://www.meritsoftware.com/.

Eurocentres CALL Library

Machine: Win
Publisher: Wida Software
Approximate single-unit price: 110
Purchase options: £75 for 1-5 users
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Ten volumes of exercises to use with the Wida Authoring Suite programs (Gapmaster, Storyboard, Matchmaster, Choicemaster, Testmaster). Volumes include Elementary Grammar, Vocabulary, and Functions; Intermediate Grammar and Vocabulary; Advanced Grammar, Vocabulary, and Functions; Cambridge Proficience Practice, and International Business Topics. On CD-ROM. Windows 95/98/NT; not verified on XP or Windows.

FCE Grammar Rom

Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: Pearson Education
See also Wida
Level: Intermediate For: All but K-6
Description: Intermediate-level grammar exercises for British English with video, sound, voice-recording, and cartoon graphics on CD-ROM. Includes section tests to monitor progress and on-screen audio help in English, Spanish, French, German or Italian. Earlier version was "The Grammar ROM." Windows 95/98; not verified on XP or Vista. Mac OS 8; not verified on OS X.

Findword

Machine: Win
Publisher: Higgins, John and Muriel
Approximate single-unit price: 5
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Utility which looks up a dictionary to retrieve lists of words which match a pattern, whether a spelling, pronunciation, or grammar pattern. A help file and dictionary are included. Examples of how the program can be used can be downloaded from the Higgins website at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wordscape/software-new.html. This program can be downloaded for a small fee from http://www.lulu.com/content/864700. Windows 2000/XP: not verified on Vista.

Fish Trek

Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Approximate single-unit price: 38
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Computer game designed to help teach English article usage; supports The Article Book, but does not require the book. It offers six game levels, ten levels of difficulty, complete print options, tracking of wrong answers, and a comprehensive practice session. Includes a test generator option for teachers. A demo can be downloaded from the website at http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=96276. Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP; Mac OS X.

Focus on Grammar Interactive

Machine: Win
Publisher: Pearson Education
Purchase options: see website
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Five-level series from beginning to advanced; each level sold separately. The CD-ROMs follow the syllabus of the textbook series in its third edition. Unlike most grammar programs, this uses all language skills and both passive and productive modes for grammar practice. Writing exercises will require a teacher for assessment. Other exercises have automated assessment and record-keeping. Also available as a fully online program. Windows 2000/XP; not verified for Vista.

Focus on Grammar series

Machine: Win
Publisher: Exceller Software
See also Addison Wesley, Longman
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Purchase options: lab, network
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Four-level series from beginning to advanced; each level sold separately. The CD-ROMs follow the syllabus of the textbook series in its third edition. Unlike most grammar programs, this uses all language skills and both passive and productive modes for grammar practice. Writing exercises will require a teacher for assessment. Other exercises have automated assessment and record-keeping.

Fundamentals of English Grammar Interactive

Machine: Win
Publisher: Longman.com
Purchase options: Contact publisher.
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: Based on the black Azar grammar book; dialogues, audio, charts and other help functions, and workbook exercises. See more at http://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/multimedia/programs/fegi.htm. Windows 98/2000/XP; not verified on Vista. This is also available as an online course.

Grammar 3D: Contextualized Practice for Learners of English

Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: Heinle & Heinle
Purchase options: sold with Grammar Dimensions texts
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Grammar exercises prepared for ESL students ranging from high beginning to advanced; only sold with the Grammar Dimensions series. Features student control of exercise sequence and record-keeping. Can be used in conjunction with any grammar text. CD-ROM.

Grammar Express Basic

Machine: Win
Publisher: Longman.com
Approximate single-unit price: 60
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All but K-6
Description: Interactive CD-ROM with exercises that teach grammar through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Dynamic animations introduce grammar points; variety of exercise types; 12 tests, each with 25 questions, for self-assessment. Closely follows the book by the same name in content. Windows XP/2000; not verified for Vista.

Grammar Made Easy

Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: DK Interactive Learning
See also Software Express
Approximate single-unit price: 55
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Lessons and a game-show format; designed for native speakers. Diagnostic testing with tutorials for those topics where special attention is needed. Record-keeping.

Grammar Sense Interactive CD-ROMs

Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: Oxford Univ. Press
Approximate single-unit price: 200
Purchase options: CDs sold individually
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-8
Description: CD-ROMs for Basic (GSI1), intermediate (GSI2), or high-intermediate to advanced high school or adult learners (GSI3). These supplement the grammar text, Grammar Sense. Each CD-ROM includes interactive exercises, charts and usage notes with audio examples, games, and tests for learners to check their progress. CDs sold individually. Windows 98/XP; not tested on Vista.

Title: GrammarQuest

Machine: Win
Publisher: Gepeto Software
Approximate single-unit price: 15
Purchase options: lab, site
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All but K-3
Description: Gaming interface, where the user answers exercises correctly to get treasure. 50 different lessons. Students can play the quest games, review the exercises with the Grammar Review feature, or do the exercises at home with the worksheets printed from the Teacher Toolbox screen. Every topic includes comprehensive and complete online help with examples. Record-keeping option. Requires Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, or NT; not compatible with Windows Vista. Download a sample from the website.

Gramster 1 and 2

Machine: Win
Publisher: Edulang
Approximate single-unit price: 460
Purchase options: indiv levels; lab, site
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-3
Description: Gramster 1 and 2 each offer five levels (beginning to advanced) and an authoring system; teachers can share what they have written on www.gramster.com. Student exercises require both reading and writing. The student reads a rule or a passage and chooses an answer among several alternatives; the software gives written feedback with an explanation and allows the student to modify his/her answer. Semi-authentic texts can be printed out. Gramster 1 and 2 are sold separately. Levels in each can be purchased separately for about $115 per level.

Greenwood: Grammar

Machine: Win
Publisher: Greenwood Multimedia Corp.
Purchase options: see website
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 3-12, Adult
Description: Formerly known as English Easy, this a Canadian series of CDs with web activation. The first CD begins with the introduction of the various structures of a sentence in a systematic sequence to allow the students to build their skills incrementally. The second CD builds on the first and introduces more complex grammatical structures. Each CD has interactive practice exercises and the lessons include short dialogues to illustrate grammar rules and sentence development. Some of the more abstract concepts have multilingual explanations in Japanese, Cantonese, and Mandarin as well as English to aid understanding.

My Canada Software

Machine: Win
Publisher: NAS Educational Software
Purchase options: Contact publisher
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 9-12, Adult
Description: Designed for new immigrants to Canada, this uses photos, video and animation clips, narration and a variety of activities to build language skills while teaching about Canada.Topics include Canadian history, government, science and culture.

Tense Buster

Machine: Win
Publisher: Clarity Language Consultants
Approximate single-unit price: 90
Purchase options: $365 for all 5 levels; lab, site packs
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Tense Buster upgrade. Covers selected grammar areas through presentations, practice exercises, rules, tests and learner training tips; has interactive feedback for right and wrong answers. Students can take notes, listen to the pronunciation of vocabulary items, hear many of the conversations and texts read out, do speaking activities, create tests from a test bank, and track their progress over different sessions. Teachers can choose North American English, International English, or Indian English. The five courses, Elementary through Advanced, are sold separately or as a bundle. Includes a free Authoring Kit and membership to TenseBuster.com website with downloadable materials to use with the authoring kit. Demos can be requested from info AT clarity.com.hk.

Tense Tester

Machine: Win
Publisher: Sky Software House
Approximate single-unit price: 115
Purchase options: lab, site
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: Exercises and tests generated automatically from a large bank if test items. Includes a detailed explanation of grammar problems and record-keeping so learners can monitor their progress.

Understanding and Using English Grammar Interactive

Machine: Win
Publisher: Longman.com
Purchase options: Contact publisher
Level: Advanced For: All
Description: From the advanced Azar grammar book by the same name. This CD-ROM includes animated grammar presentations; introductory dialogues about grammar; practice with listening, speaking and reading; grammar charts; and record-keeping. See more at http://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/multimedia/programs/uuegi.htm. Windows 98/2000/XP; not verified on Vista. This is also available as an online course.

Verbalist

Machine: Win
Publisher: Higgins, John and Muriel
Purchase options: freeware
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: A verb-forming algorithm which allows learners to build up any verb-phrase that is acceptable in English and to see the inflectional rules used to create it. Also contains information on help pages about transitivity, stative verbs, tenses and aspect. Free download from http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wordscape/software-new.html#verbal.

Word Order 2

Machine: Mac/Win
Publisher: PerLingua Software
Approximate single-unit price: 5
Purchase options: shareware
Level: Teacher For: Teacher
Description: You provide the sentences and Word Order 2 does the rest. A great feature is that you can easily choose how the sentences are broken up. Students click on words in buttons to make a sentence. Feedback is instant; both visually (the word is added to the screen) and aurally (there are sounds for correct and incorrect choices). Free demo is limited to 5 sentences; $5 shareware for full version.


https://eltexpert.com/softlist/callgrammar.html
Last updated 25 May 2009 by Deborah Healey, dhealey at uoregon dot edu
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