Little Early Bird: Idealistic and Practice

Apa itu Little Early Bird?
Little Early Bird adalah metode didaktis pembelajaran bahasa Inggris yang holistik untuk pemula, dalam hal ini untuk anak-anak kelas 1 dan 2 SD, yang disertai dengan kelengkapan copy master bahan ajar, lagu-lagu serta dialog-dialog.

Kemampuan apa saja yang dikembangkan oleh Little Early Bird?
Little Early Bird khususnya mengembangkan kemampuan mendengar dan memahami (listening comprehension) dan speaking.

Apakah Little Early Bird harus diterapkan dengan open and active system–nya?
Little Early Bird menawarkan suatu sistem yang ideal yang dilengkapi dengan berbagai macam panduan dan kegiatan yang memudahkan sistem tersebut diterapkan. Akan tetapi hal tersebut tetap merupakan tawaran dan bukan paksaan untuk menuju sistem pendidikan yang menghargai keunikan individual yang lebih baik.

Dapatkah open and active sytem diterapkan di sekolah saya?
Little Early Bird mengusung sistem belajar baru yang dinamakan open and active sistem. Sistem ini bersifat fleksibel dan seharusnya semua sekolah tanpa kecuali dapat menerapkannya di kelas-kelas mereka dengan berbagai penyesuaian dari kerangka idealnya, yang penting ada kebebasan dan kegembiraan di situ.

Bagaimana kalau sekolah saya sudah memiliki acuan kurikulum tertentu untuk pembelajaran bahasa Inggris?
Untuk sekolah-sekolah yang sudah memiliki kurikulum tidak perlu khawatir, karena Little Early Bird juga dapat dipakai sebagai materi suplementari, yang bisa mendukung tema-tema yang sedang dipelajari dari kurikulum yang sedang digunakan dan membantu menciptakan suasana gembira di kelas-kelas bahasa Inggris.

Bagaimana cara membuat perencanaan pengajaran dengan menggunakan open and active system yang ada dalam Little Early Bird?

• Ada berbagai alternatif perencanaan pengajaran, seperti yang telah diungkapkan dalam Teacher’s Guide. Namun salah satu cara yang terbaik adalah dengan beracuan pada satu tema tertentu, kemudian mengembangkan perencanaan melalui tema yang sudah dipilih tadi.
• Hal yang perlu diperhatikan adalah pilihan kegiatan yang disajikan dalam satu hari.
• Untuk kegiatan tertentu, seperti listening misalnya, bisa diorganisasikan kegiatan bersama dalam kelompok besar.
• Tetapi untuk kegiatan yang dimainkan dalam kelompok kecil dapat divariasikan kegiatannya dalam satu hari (misalnya dalam satu hari ada permainan Bingo dan Snail Game). Apabila guru merasa kesulitan menangani berbagai macam permainan yang berbeda pada suatu waktu yang bersamaan, permainan-permainan tersebut dapat diperkenalkan terlebih dahulu secara terpisah kemudian pada pertemuan-pertemuan selanjutnya baru dikombinasikan.
• Atau dengan alternatif lain, sebelum permainan dengan kartu atau kertas diawali atau diakhiri dengan materi yang dipelajari pada hari itu (terutama pada kelas-kelas yang besar).  Misalnya dengan membaca flashcards bersama (awal) atau dengan menceritakan kegiatan kertas apa yang dia buat pada hari itu (akhir). Misalnya pada hari yang bersangkutan seorang anak mengerjakan count and colour, pada akhir kegiatan guru dapat meminta anak tersebut untuk menceritakan pada teman sekelasnya apa yang sudah dia buat, termasuk warna apa saja yang dia pakai, sehingga anak benar-benar langsung menggunakan bahasa Ingris, bukan sekedar menghafalnya.

Bagaimana jika dalam satu hari disediakan berbagai macam pilihan aktivitas dan anak mulai berpindah dari satu aktivitas ke aktivitas yang lain sebelum aktivitas sebelumnya diselesaikan?
Sudah tentu ini masalah lain, open and active system bukan berarti anak bebas melakukan semuanya semau mereka, akan tetapi bebas yang bertanggung jawab, yang melahirkan kepercayaan diri. Anak boleh diberi banyak pilihan dan mereka memilih tetapi bila mereka sudah memilih suatu kegiatan tertentu, tentu saja mereka harus menyelesaikannya, ini adalah wujud disiplin dan tanggung jawab anak, jgua kerendah hatian guru untuk memberi kepercayaan kepada anak.

Ruangan kelas bagaimana yang ideal untuk pembelajaran dengan Little Early Bird?
Idealnya kelas Little Early Bird adalah kelas dengan meja dan kursi yang mudah dipindah-pindah, karena banyak kegiatan dengan Little Early Bird yang dimainkan secara kelompok, walaupun ada juga kegiatan-kegiatan yang dilakukan secara bersama-sama. Akan tetapi pada kenyataannya di Indonesia masih banyak kelas-kelas dengan meja kursi yang terstruktur dengan papan tulis di depannya. Hal ini sebaiknya tidak menjadi penghalang, karena sebenarnya bagaimana sistem ini digunakan adalah lebih penting. Bagaimana guru bisa memperhatikan anak per anak dengan lebih baik sesuai keunikannya, dengan memberi penghargaan terhadap hasil karya anak, misalnya dengan memajang hasil karya anak di tembok kelas adalah inti sari dari sistem ini.

Bagaimana kelas yang ideal untuk pembelajaran dengan Little Early Bird?
Sesungguhnya bukan hanya untuk Little Early Bird saja, untuk pendidikan yang lebih baik, yang berpusat pada individual dan yang mempelajari sesuatu dari pengalaman, penelitian, refleksi dan untuk perkembangan individual anak yang lebih optimal seharusnya kelas kecil memang ideal ( < 30 anak per kelas), dan lebih baik lagi bila ada lebih dari satu fasilitator dalam kelas.

Bagaiamana jika saya seorang guru yang mengajar 40 anak dalam satu kelas terstruktur sendirian?
Keadaan seperti itu memang kenyataan yang tidak dapat kita pungkiri, bahkan sebagian besar sekolah memang demikian adanya. Akan tetapi open and active system bukan hadir untuk memperkeruh persoalan, bahkan open and active system dengan fleksibilitasnya dapat membantu guru untuk bisa mengajar secara menyenangkan.



Baca informasi terkait:
Little Early Bird - Media Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris untuk PG TK SD
Little Early Bird: Early English Learning for Children in Kindergarten and Primary School
Little Early Bird: Paket Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris

Beberapa Komponen Little Early Birds
Little Early Bird: Paket Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris untuk KB, TK, SD kelas 1-2.
Little Early Bird: Early English Learning for Children in Kindergarten and Primary School

The Methods of Exchange - Video for Listening Comprehension in English Classroom

If the principle of trading has existed since the mists of time, the methods of exchange have themselves evolved.

In the past we used to barter, which consisted in exchanging goods or crops. Today, each country has its own currency. Some countries adopt a common currency, like the euro in Europe.

Nowadays there are different ways of making your money bear fruit. For example, you can put your money on the stock market, whether in Bangkok or Tokyo.

Then you have to cross your fingers and hope the share value increases. But in reality, it's a lot more complex than mere superstition!

Some financial analysts compare the different markets, make forecasts on future interest rates in each country, and invest in fluctuating values.

For example, on this market, the most valued products are foodstuffs such as wheat, coffee or sugar. But all products, be they agricultural, industrial or other, have their own importance, since it's the fluctuation of their different values that make a country's economy function.

The gross national product represents the value of the goods and services acquired, in one year, by the economic activity in national or foreign territories, without taking depreciation into account.

It shouldn't be confused with the gross domestic product, the wealth created during the year inside the country!

However, a country must know how to balance its imports and exports. If it doesn't, it'll find itself with a trade imbalance which may either be a deficit or a surplus.

Economic activity follows three stages: the production of goods and services, the distribution of incomes, and the expenditure corresponding to consumption aimed at satisfying needs.

Whilst following its own economic policy, each country has to try and manage these three stages as best it can.

In a global economy, a country's government may no longer have control over certain variables, such as the exchange rate of its currency. Little by little, this may lead to a situation where it's no longer capable of managing its economy properly.

A rise in prices may harm the competitiveness of national products, in particular when inflation is greater than abroad. In that case, imports increase and money must be found to pay for the purchases.

This is particularly difficult since the price of national goods abroad is shooting up, reducing foreign sales. At the same time, companies have more and more trouble coping, and so reduce their output.

Manpower is in turn restricted, unemployment goes up and purchasing power falls considerably. A vicious circle thus takes hold...

This is one of the many scenarios that can turn a country upside down and widen the social divide. Unfortunately, there's no miracle solution to economic disparity!


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How A Contract Is Concluded - Video for Listening Comprehension in English Classroom

Have you ever asked yourself how a contract is concluded? You must surely imagine very serious meetings attended by dozens of lawyers.

Maybe you’ve even got the image in your head of two chairmen on a golf course who, arriving at the eighteenth hole, shake hands to finalise their agreement.

In fact, everything begins here: in the secretary’s office. The future partners contact each other by phone to arrange a meeting.

The most difficult thing is agreeing on the legal and financial terms of the contract. Here, the two parties hope to find a common ground concerning the building of a new tourism complex.

The architect’s objective is to have his project accepted and the property developer’s, to get the best proposal for the least cost and with a reasonable period of construction.

The plans drawn up by the architect will probably undergo a few modifications because some of the proposals put forward risk turning out to be very costly.

The two men are trying to come to an agreement. They state their points of view and look for a way to overcome the possible obstacles. In a word, they negotiate.

The contract, now written, is then handed over to the lawyers who also try to get as much money out of the deal as possible. Their work consists in warning and protecting their clients from possible conflicts.

In fact, a contract resembles a sponge. Everyone wrings it to try and get a maximum out of it.

The lawyers have come to the end of their work and the contract is finally ready to be signed. At the last minute, the architect doesn’t agree with one of the clauses.

Some of the property developer’s demanded changes would considerably change the villas’ outward appearance and could jeopardise the deal’s success. He can’t accept such a thing.

Well, it’s always like that! Just into the final straight and within an inch of uncorking the champagne, a final problem arises. The architect demands an explanation as to why such changes are needed. He refuses to take part in a construction project of banal villas.

Now all he’s got left to do is redesign everything, or more or less, a good part of it. He modifies his plans and allows the developer to save lots of money. Everyone finally seems to be satisfied.

The secretary adds the last amendments to the contract’s text, the lawyers examine it a final time and the men shake hands. Who would have thought that negotiating a contract needed so much time, work and, above all, dialogue?


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Computer Technology - Video for Listening Comprehension in English Classroom



What do you associate the word 'card' with? Of course, there are business cards, credit cards, or even phonecards, postcards...

But since the birth of the computer, we have created new types of cards: graphic cards, sound cards, video cards, network cards, fax modem cards or even more sophisticated: TV tuner cards.

Computers have truly enriched our vocabulary, but they’ve especially modified our working habits and our way of life.

Obviously, with the arrival of computers, the office appearance has changed. Gone are the records, large files and shelves full of paper!

The keyboard has replaced the pen and the screen, the sheet of paper. The only disadvantage: you can’t play basketball with the computer’s bin!

Before, we used floppy disks to save information. Then there were diskettes. Today, we use CD-ROMs and tomorrow there will be DVDs with an incredible storage capacity!

With a computer, typing has become less tedious than with a typewriter. A few taps and the document is corrected. All that’s left, therefore, is to print it out.

Computer science is a field in constant evolution: whether it be the storage capacity of disks, the speed of processors or even the size of computers.

It’s thus possible to transport your computer in a briefcase and to take it everywhere with you: to meetings, on business trips, home or even to a restaurant. Better yet, you don’t risk staining the files while rereading them.

Nowadays, planes are effectively full of businessmen with their eyes glued firmly to their screens. Previously they lost lots of time travelling, but today, with a laptop and a mobile phone, they make the most of the time taken up by travelling.

Computers are really practical! Moreover, there are now software that can correct grammar and spelling mistakes and even suggest synonyms. No more need to pay attention to correcting language. Well... almost!

But watch out if you’re a beginner! A simple touch of the wrong key and you can delete a document.

Either this businessman is on holiday, which we find hard to believe, or a practical joker has flooded his office and he’s sending out an SOS so that someone will come and rescue him. However, he doesn’t look too worried. The water can’t be too cold, then!

And here’s the person probably responsible for the flooding! Familiar with computers from a very young age, children no longer have any apprehension when facing a machine. They’re so mischievous and curious that they manage to do some fascinating things.

This little genius must surely be trying to connect to a military computer. Cross your fingers that he doesn’t trigger off the third world war!


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About Distribution - Video for Listening Comprehension in English Classroom

In the field of distribution we use large means... or smaller ones! The only difference is the economies of scale.

To put good methods into practice, you have to start young, for example by delivering newspapers to people in the neighbourhood. Sometimes the delivery is done well, other times, it leaves a little to be desired. But that happens everywhere, even in large companies.

There are days when the goods dispatched from warehouses are faulty. Even if this is due to bad packaging, the products have to be replaced. When there are delivery errors, the problem is sorted out by the dispatch department.

The large distribution networks resort to different means of transport. Heavy goods vehicles are used in most cases, driven by long-distance lorry drivers who use the motorways, day and night.

They often get stuck in hold-ups on the roads approaching heavily built-up areas. Even if the journeys are tiring, they have to unload upon arrival and this is when trolleys are handy for covering the last few metres.

Despite the construction of motorway networks, rail is still used. Once the merchandise is loaded into the wagons, the freight is forwarded to its destination. The logistics are more complex, but there are fewer traffic jams!

We also use the oceans to transport products from one continent to another and canals inside the same country. The cargo is stowed on board the ships by dockers. Once arrived safe and sound, the operation is carried out backwards: the cranes come to life and the unloading can begin.

Then the lorries take over. In certain cases, air freighters are used. But this remains very costly.

Don't forget that good distribution begins with good packaging! There are different types of packaging: glass, paper, plastic, cardboard and wood, used for fruit and vegetable crates.

Everything is put on shelves, stacked and well organised to save time when treating the orders. Deadlines are very short in distribution. This explains the need for tools that are fast and efficient, because the keyword is efficiency, even on a local level.

As everybody knows, the customer is always right. We help them put their purchases into bags and can deliver to their homes. Or they can even benefit from mail-order services. The client orders over the phone and a few days later, we deliver the product in question.

With a credit card, all you have to do is sign on the dotted line! In cities, where the keyword is speed, we call on the services of a courier. Once in possession of the address, he picks up the parcel and takes it, double quick, to the addressee.

You have to know the names of all the streets if you are a courier. This one looks like he's a little lost and this one is going faster than the wind! His boss is going to be happy!


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Visits from Foreign Sales Representatives - Video for Listening Comprehension in English Classroom

In all large international companies it's quite common to receive visits from foreign sales representatives. Our company organises their stay from A to Z.

We make the reservations with the airlines who then send the tickets directly to the passengers. All they've got to do then is make their way to the airport. We always try to work with reputable airlines. That way, the reps arrive satisfied and fresh, despite the jet lag.

As business trips never last long, travellers don't get burdened with several suitcases... Unless they've decided to take advantage of the journey to stay on for a few more days!

Today, one of our employees is going to the airport to meet a foreign client. He accompanies him to his hotel, which is just a stone's throw from our company. That way, the client will avoid the traffic jams the following morning and any connection problems on public transport.

Of course, he has access to all the company's facilities: a photocopier, a printer, a telephone and an answering machine with fax. This lets him stay in touch with his family.

The following day, discussions get under way first thing in the morning. First of all the client listens to our plans and proposals before speaking himself. He shows us a few diagrams and some pie charts which set out the financial breakdown. When the figures are excellent, the demonstration is all the easier!

The client's proposals are worth thinking about, so our sales department studies them in detail. Then the legal department takes care of drawing up the terms of a new contract.

Come the evening, the director invites the client to a restaurant, then takes him to a ballet, if that suits him. Although the atmosphere is more relaxed, both of them are thinking about the same thing: the terms of the new contract!

The following morning, at breakfast, everybody's already engrossed in the documents. The client checks the details of the contract and, one last time, contacts his company by electronic mail. Once the terms of the contract are accepted, everybody meets to sign it. A bottle of champagne is immediately uncorked!

You must always stay confident, even when the situation seems blocked. Now the client can make the most of what's left of his time to visit the city. One of our secretaries has arranged his itinerary for tomorrow: a guided tour in the morning, followed by an afternoon's shopping so that he can get some souvenirs for his family!

The day ends in a superb restaurant, with the director and a few employees, where the contract is suitably celebrated!


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About Wine and Wine Making - Video for Listening Comprehension in English Classroom

Wine production requires lots of work. Everything begins with the vinestocks which generally require a temperate climate. Vine-growing, like any other type of farming, depends enormously on the weather conditions.

The famous vine-growing regions, like Bordeaux in France, Tuscany in Italy, Rioja in Spain or even Franconia in Germany, are all crossed by large rivers.

A rainy spring or high temperatures will have an influence on the sweetness and acidity of the grape. When the fruit has reached the necessary ripeness, grape harvesting can begin.

The bunches are taken to the winepress. At this stage of the production, you have to decide whether to make white wine, red or rosé. Red wine is made with black grapes, and white wine with green grapes or black grapes without their skin.

After ageing in a cask, the wine is bottled and stocked in a cellar. At regular intervals, someone tastes the wine to make sure there are no chemical reactions that might alter its taste. This man is checking the wine's colour, aroma and bouquet.

Normally a wine taster mustn't swallow the wine. What a shame not to drink such a fine wine! Luckily he drinks some anyway! Imagine a baker who'd never tasted his own bread. By chance this man lives and works in the grounds, so he won't need to drive home!

A good wine makes its own reputation. No need for a commercial set in the tropics to praise its qualities.

Nonetheless, the information on the label is sometimes useful to distinguish a table wine from a fortified wine or a syrupy wine, or else to find out if it must be served at room temperature or chilled.

In good restaurants, the wine waiter himself goes down into the cellar to fetch the wines. When he chooses a bottle, he blows on it delicately to remove the dust.

Having spent all that time in a cellar, a bottle must be opened carefully. There's no point keeping it in the dark at a constant temperature for so long, if you don't let the liquid breathe before drinking it.

The wine waiter opens the bottle and smells the cork to make sure the wine hasn't changed into vinegar! This happens from time to time, even though we've known how to make wine for a few thousand years!

A good wine, that's to say a vintage wine, is meant to be savoured. A glass of Château Lafite-Rothschild should be drunk slowly, as you don't get to drink some every day!

And finally, even if you don't particularly appreciate the taste of wine, you can quite simply admire its colour: no two bottles are alike!


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