Release of Resources ELLS Content Scripts Content scripts containing all 36 lessons can be downloaded in MS Word or PDF Files. ELLS Frequently Asked Questions

The Department conducted a research and development project to build on current research in language learning using technology. From this work, the Department developed the E-Language Learning System (ELLS)--a web-based application that combines language-learning research with a gaming approach and structured immersion pedagogy to teach English. The ELLS emphasizes mastering listening, speaking, reading, writing and comprehension skills. The project intended to develop and evaluate thirty-six, 50-minute modules of English as a second language activities emphasizing these language acquisition skills.

The purpose of this project was to test the effectiveness of a new approach to second language instruction. ED believes that the approach could prove to be an important advancement in second language instruction. ED intended to conduct a rigorous evaluation of the approach and to disseminate its evaluation findings to the public.

ELLS was an ED research and development project administered by the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service. ED developed this project with the Ministry of Education (MOE), People's Republic of China (PRC), through a 2001 Memorandum of Understanding. Both countries agreed to develop the ELLS application as parallel systems. ED developed an ELLS to teach English to Chinese speakers. The MOE developed an ELLS to teach Chinese to English speakers.

Following President Bush's trip to Shanghai in October 2001 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leader's Meeting, the White House announced a series of e-learning initiatives. One of these initiatives involved the development of an e-language learning system applying advanced web-based language instruction technologies. One year later, the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Chinese Minister of Education signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding for a joint research and development project, known as the U.S.-China E-Language Project. The Chinese Minister noted that the project was the largest government-to-government education initiative "since the normalization of relations between the two countries in 1979."

The purpose of the project is to test the effectiveness of a new approach to second language instruction using a unique combination of content, pedagogy, and technology. The project uses student-oriented content, including games, animation, cultural content, a structured immersion pedagogy, voice recognition, and other technologies. The Department believes that this effort, based on the most current research on second language-learning pedagogy, instructional design, and educational technology, can be an important advance in second language instruction. The Department is interested in evaluating the effectiveness of this approach in delivering foreign language instruction.

A number of private sector organizations participated in the market research and related follow-up activities. Based on the results of this market research, and the interest expressed by the participating private sector organizations, we believe there is strong interest in the private sector in further developing the ELLS project. To support those in the field who can benefit from the research and development completed by the Department, the Department is releasing the ELLS system into the public domain.

The Department eventually intends to evaluate any built and implemented system that meets our technical and pedagogical specifications, as originally conceptualized in this research and development effort. Our first priority is to evaluate the English language implementation of the e-language learning system with a Chinese-speaking student population. In addition, we will consider evaluating a built and implemented English language system that is targeted on a Spanish-speaking student population.