Pearson and Educational Testing Service Co-Launch Academic Connections

First-of-its-Kind Program Prepares English Language Learners for Academic Success

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Princeton, N.J. (November 9, 2009) —

Pearson Longman and Educational Testing Service (ETS) announce the arrival of an innovative series of textbooks and online software for English language learners. Academic Connections is a groundbreaking English instruction program that prepares students for success in mainstream college and university classrooms. It is the only series of its kind with a strong basis in research, activities that develop academic competence in all four language skills, and blended learning that combines in-person and online learning activities.

Based on years of rigorous research conducted by ETS, Academic Connections focuses on a set of academic skills that have been identified as critical to student success. Each level of the series, from Beginning to Advanced English, focuses on these skills as they are used in reading, writing, listening and speaking. From understanding the structure of a lecture to creating a cohesive essay, students develop language skills that are used every day in an English-speaking classroom.

Academic Connections integrates all four language skills, reflecting the real-world university life. Students read textbooks and then come to class to listen to a lecture. They then discuss the issues in small groups and turn in written responses. Having the opportunity to experience "real-life" academic situations provides students with a strong foundation of what is truly needed to succeed in a college environment.

In addition, Academic Connections blends face-to-face classwork with online study. Research has shown that a combination of face-to-face classwork and online homework is more successful than face-to-face instruction alone. Furthermore, online work is fast becoming the norm in university courses. MyAcademicConnectionsLab, the online component to Academic Connections, can help improve student results with immediate feedback on homework as well as more opportunities to read, write, listen to, and speak academic English.

All of the assessment takes place in MyAcademicConnectionsLab, which also saves teachers time by grading homework automatically. Convenient gradebook and reporting options are available for teachers to track, assess, and report individual student progress in an easy-to-use format.

"This represents a new kind of English course," says Anne Boynton-Trigg, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Pearson Longman USA. "Our authors started from a solid research base and designed a series that will truly prepare students for academic study. In addition, blending a textbook with online work is more than an effective way to teach; it represents the reality that students will encounter when they transition into mainstream courses."

"Academic Connections is based on years of research and experience in the field examining what works best for English language learners," says ETS Global Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Hunt. "This new program integrates those practices that have been deemed most effective for nonnative English speakers to build the skills they need for academic success."

For more information, take an online guided tour or visit MyAcademicConnectionsLab.

About Pearson Longman

Since 1724, Pearson Longman has provided the highest quality materials for learners of all ages around the globe. As the world's leading publisher of print and digital English language learning materials for elementary, and secondary school, college and adult teachers, Pearson Longman proudly continues a rich tradition of preparing learners for a future of academic and lifelong success.

Support and Recognition of Great Teachers

As part of our mission, we seek out and promote the accomplishments of great teachers all over the world. Our partnerships with teachers keep us focused on the challenges of educating a wide range of students in an interconnected world.

About ETS

At nonprofit ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® test and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org