How does Let’s Discover work?

Let’s Discover makes learning languages fun and interactive. Built for classrooms with or without technology and Internet access, Let’s Discover is easy to integrate into any setting and accommodates students with a variety of skill levels.

Resource Blended with Text and Multimedia

Let’s Discover is a complete and rich multimedia, multimodal language learning program designed to directly address classroom language curriculum. Using texts, workbooks and computer access, students can learn and study in a fun, interactive environment at school, at the library or at home. Focusing on the communicative ability of students, Let’s Discover texts and workbooks direct students to use hundreds of online or USB/DVD provided media resources that engage students through listening, viewing, speaking, reading, and writing. This creates a current and exciting approach to learning languages.

In the classroom students and teachers have print textbooks, workbooks and the teacher’s guide. At home, at the library or in the computer lab students can access the e-textbook, e-workbook, French and Spanish animations, a glossary that includes auditory pronunciations of the terms, and language-embedded games online 24 hours a day. Teachers also have access to the online media and content that they can use at their option on SMART Boards or with a projector and screen.

Homework Friendly

Students are no longer stuck when they have left their text or workbook at school. With Let’s Discover students can access an online version of their textbook and workbook 24 hours a day. They can also access free language support through the homework help site, SchoolWAX.com, which is the login page for the online resources.

Will Let’s Discover work with the media, or lack of it, in my classroom?

Let’s Discover is a fully contained print resource with supplementary online resources that augment and enhance the classroom learning experience. Teachers can choose not to use the multimedia components and still cover the entire curriculum.

Below are some scenarios that help explain how you can easily integrate Let’s Discover into your classroom:

Classroom – no media

For teachers who don’t have media access in the classroom:

Use the traditional print text and workbook in the classroom
Students can access media at home or in a computer lab or library
Teachers can supply group time in class for students to share their media experiences

Classroom – some media

For a classroom that only has a few computers or has an instruction station with a projector:

Teachers can teach as above (see "no media" scenario) and/or project some Let’s Discover learning media as appropriate
Send students alone or in small groups to work with media (for examples, those struggling with different themes can access online games or videos)
Students finished with their work can play a language-embedded game
Students who learn better by viewing can custom search hundreds of language videos provided by Let’s Discover

Classroom – media rich

For classrooms that have a computer for every one or two students or a Smart Board:

Teachers can teach as above (see "some media" scenario)
Plan teacher-designed lessons around the media (for example: game days, student groups presenting animations on the Smart Board, student-run review sessions, media rich lectures and classroom activities)

“The students really enjoy the program – especially because the Promethean Board enables us to work together. They love the animations!

I love the design of the program. Everything is so well thought out and planned!!!! I always hesitated to teach French because I had no program to teach from and this one is a breeze - fantastic!! Thanks so much!!”
-Carol Marit, Grade 4 Teacher, 7th Avenue School, Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Canada

Why is Let’s Discover in such high demand?

Print textbooks and workbooks are customizable, affordable and can be printed on-demand
Aligned to your jurisdiction's language curriculum
Designed to provide teachers who are not fluent in the language with the necessary resources to be able to deliver an enriching program
Made by teachers with direct input from a cross section of student learners
Makes languages fun and current for students by incorporating animations, games, videos, and other online activities into the learning process
Focuses on communicative ability of students
Materials are visually pleasing and use colour, which makes for a better learning experience in elementary age groups
Free online language support enriches the cultural experience
Provides resources for students with a range of abilities
Directs students (and parents) to view animations before they complete worksheets so they have a fresh review of the concepts required
Hundreds of videos are available to Let’s Discover learners so they can find their comfort level and viewing/video format and style
Games are available for practice of necessary skills
No more lost or forgotten homework. The textbook and workbook are available online in digital format for students to access from home

What is included with the resources?

Textbook

The Textbook is available in print and electronic format. It is the starting point of each lesson. The Textbook organizes all of the print and multimedia elements of the program and provides a logical sequence of activities for students that allow them to investigate new concepts, test their understanding, and engage in challenging and fun learning activities. It contains:

Helpful Hints - presenting language concepts
Culture Clips - introducing cultural aspects of the language being studied
Viewing/Listening Activities - introducing language in an interactive way
Oral Activities - focusing on learning new vocabulary words, pronunciation, and communication
Recording Activities - for distance or independent learners; the recording is a substitute to the oral activities in the classroom
References to Workbook - directing students to workbook activities where they can integrate new unit vocabulary words and apply new or previously viewed language concepts in practice activities
Game Instructions - for instructions on how to play the games in the Workbook
Glossary - giving students access to the vocabulary introduced in the units (the Glossary is explained in more detail below)
CD Tracks and Dialogues - providing students with the scripts for the animations and audio tracks used in the Textbook
Pronunciation Guide - for finding out the pronunciation of letters, letter combinations, and words (the Pronunciation Guide is explained in more detail below)

Workbook

The Workbook is available in print and electronic format. It includes all of the exercises that are referred to in the Textbook. Students will engage in meaningful, real-to-life, and purposeful learning tasks. Many assignments involve audio while others ask for collaboration with peers to complete a task. Reflection activities and language-related games are part of every unit as well. In a workbook format the students are able to write the solutions below the questions and keep their work together. More details about the Workbook activities are given in the section “Assessment Tools”.

Animations

There are 15 animations included in the resources. Each animation provides an overview of the language concepts that will be covered in the theme or unit. They also set the stage and provide real life context for the topics that will be covered. The voice-overs for the animations are done by school-age students. The characters in the animations are woven throughout the Textbook and Workbook.

Audio Tracks

Many activities in the Textbook and Workbook use audio tracks. The resources include four CDs, one CD per theme. In the beginning levels, students spend a lot of time listening and speaking. To help them better understand what they are hearing, written contexts and pictures are provided that show students what is contained in the audio tracks. This helps students to learn and develop listening skills.

Games

At the end of each lesson, students are directed to play language-related games on the computer. Games are an interactive and fun way to practice and reinforce the language. They are also important for motivation and relaxation.

Glossary

The Glossary gives students access to the vocabulary introduced in the units. Students can use the Glossary to look up words, check spelling, and check gender of nouns (masculine or feminine). The print format is found at the back of the Textbook. The online Glossary is searchable. Each entry is available in both English and either Spanish or French, accompanied by a picture and a sound clip.

Pronunciation Guide

The print format is found at the back of the Textbook. Students can consult it to find out the pronunciation of a word. Whenever possible, the guide gives the Spanish or French pronunciation of individual letters and letter combinations, and provides examples of English words containing the same sounds.

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