Learning Computers, Speaking English

Learning Computers, Speaking English gives ESL students greater options and opportunities in today's technology-based economy by helping them practice English as they learn about computers and word processing.

The book develops skills cumulatively. Students are led through cooperative computer-based activities that cover the basic concepts of word processing, from learning to use the mouse to the features of Windows. By completing the book, students will have learned how to compose business and cover letters on the computer. Through interactive activities, students will improve reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills and review grammar.

Based on Windows, the text is designed to be used with any version of Microsoft Word. It can be used as the entire curriculum for a class, as supplementary material for just a portion of class time, or as a guide to self-study. It can be used in classrooms where there are very few computers or in classrooms that offer a computer to each student.

The material formerly housed on the floppy disk has been placed on the website for easy—and free—access. Click here to access them.

Important Update for Users of Learning Computers, Speaking English , Set (ISBN: 978-0-472-08683-2):

Please note that the edition of Learning Computers, Speaking English packaged with a floppy disk is no longer available. Changes in technology required that many student computers no longer be equipped with floppy disk drives, and it was no longer possible for The University of Michigan Press to find a manufacturer to duplicate floppy disks economically. As a result, files once contained on the floppy disk are now readily available at www.press.umich.edu/elt/lcsefiles at no additional charge. The textbook's instructions for computer-based activities using the floppy disk still refer to folders and files as originally organized on the disk; however, it was not possible to use the same organization once these files were loaded to the Internet. Since it's not possible for users to create file folders from our website, all files have been clearly listed beneath the same heading names as they appeared on the floppy disk. In those cases where the floppy disk contained empty folders, the web only shows the original folder name.

We strongly recommend copying the document files onto your network server or having students copy the files onto their computer:

• Create a folder for each unit and all the activity folders within them, as explained throughout the textbook and reflected in the organization of files posted on the Internet.
• Copy any document files into the appropriate folders.
• Where the website displays only a list or heading with no associated files, create empty folders for each item on the list or heading.

Organizing the files within created folders will make it easier for students to follow the textbook's instructions for computer-based activities using the floppy disk. While we found this web format to be the best option given recent technological improvements and most cost-effective for new and long-time users of the book, we do apologize for the extra effort required by this update.