Report 3Report 3

Technologies for a person with a particular need.Technologies for a person with a particular need.

LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES:LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES:

(Manjeeta is about to start work for HSBC Bank (Manjeeta is about to start work for HSBC Bank at their call centre in India. Her English is at their call centre in India. Her English is

limited and needs to be improved.)limited and needs to be improved.)

1.1. Internet – Distance learningInternet – Distance learning

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGESAble to access a variety of Able to access a variety of online materials.online materials.Interactive, with audio and Interactive, with audio and video clips to support.video clips to support.Can work at own pace and at Can work at own pace and at any time.any time.Get instant feedback on Get instant feedback on progress.progress.Can redo exercises.Can redo exercises.Get some understanding of Get some understanding of the British culture.the British culture.More flexible than attending a More flexible than attending a local college to learn – no local college to learn – no need to leave house.need to leave house.

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGESCost of purchasing a Cost of purchasing a computer, and internet computer, and internet connection.connection.No access to a human. Can No access to a human. Can ask questions online, but ask questions online, but reply will not be instant.reply will not be instant.Dealing with a ‘faceless’ or Dealing with a ‘faceless’ or ‘remote’ teacher.‘remote’ teacher.

2. Communication – Video Conferencing2. Communication – Video ConferencingADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

Receive training from HSBC Receive training from HSBC staff in England.staff in England.

No need to leave your home No need to leave your home to receive training.to receive training.

Costs of training reduced, as Costs of training reduced, as no need to hire a building, no need to hire a building, provide refreshments, etc.provide refreshments, etc.

Increases cultural awareness.Increases cultural awareness.

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES

Costly to set up in the first Costly to set up in the first place.place.

Quality of picture may be Quality of picture may be questionable (delays?)questionable (delays?)

Considerable time and effort Considerable time and effort to set up in the first place.to set up in the first place.

If system fails, is there If system fails, is there expertise available at both expertise available at both ends to fix it?ends to fix it?

Time differences between 2 Time differences between 2 countries.countries.

3. Entertainment – Digital TV3. Entertainment – Digital TV

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

Increase cultural awareness of Increase cultural awareness of life in Britain, and dealing with life in Britain, and dealing with British people.British people.

Be able to pick up local Be able to pick up local accents and dialects of British accents and dialects of British people.people.

Keep abreast of news and Keep abreast of news and current affairs issues.current affairs issues.

Programmes often repeated.Programmes often repeated.

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES

Requires user to have access Requires user to have access to cable or satellite TV, which to cable or satellite TV, which costs money.costs money.

Tends to broadcast world Tends to broadcast world news, rather than British news, rather than British news.news.

May be bias in their news May be bias in their news reporting about major events.reporting about major events.

4. PC Technology - Software4. PC Technology - Software

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

One off purchase for CD.One off purchase for CD.

Can work at own pace, Can work at own pace, anytime.anytime.

Saves having to leave the Saves having to leave the house to go to a college.house to go to a college.

Do not have to pay for an Do not have to pay for an internet connection, unlike internet connection, unlike web based learning.web based learning.

Can get instant feedback Can get instant feedback when you complete an when you complete an exercise.exercise.

DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES

To move from beginner to To move from beginner to intermediate or higher level, intermediate or higher level, you may need to buy another you may need to buy another CD.CD.

No teacher present in the No teacher present in the room to ask a question.room to ask a question.

May need to install / buy May need to install / buy multimedia software to run it.multimedia software to run it.

If you have an old computer, If you have an old computer, software may not install.software may not install.

Need to ensure that your Need to ensure that your computer has sound working.computer has sound working.