Installation and login
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1.1 |
How can I get the EB User Manual?
If you do not have Word or Acrobat Reader installed, please download the viewers from here:
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1.2 |
What is the system requirement of EB?
Basic Requirement
Hardware
- Pentium 1 GHz or Athlon 1 GHz or faster
- 256 MB RAM
- 1024 x 768 pixels or higher screen resolution
- Loud speakers or headphones
- Microphone (for speaking exercises)
Software
- Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7 / 8
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or above; Chrome, Firefox (latest version)
- Adobe Flash Player 10.1 or above
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1.3 |
How can I download the necessary software?
Before you start the installation, please be sure that you have Windows administrator rights to access your computer.
By plug-in detection and download page
English Builder will automatically detect your computer and request you to install the missing software plug-in before you start a lesson.
The required software plug-ins are Adobe Flash Player (version 10 or above). You may download them by clicking the Download button from the plug-ins detection page as shown below.
For direct download
If you need an alternative way to download the software plug-ins, you may find the direct download link below:
If you need further information, you can email our Customer Service Department at eb@wiseman.com.hk or call our service hotline (852) 3188 2600 during our office hours. Please state clearly your School Name, Class and Username.
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1.4 |
What should I do if I forget my password?
Use “Forgot Password” feature
If you have not entered a valid email address in your profile, then you can use the Forgot Password feature to recover your password. Your password will be sent directly to your registered email.
- Back to the Wiseman Education home page
- Find Forgot Password under the password input box
- Enter your School Code and Username
- Click Retrieve Password
- Check your registered email to recover your password
Contact us
If you have not input your email in your Profile, please contact our Service Team at (852) 3188 2600 during normal office hours or fill in this [ Service Form ].
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1.5 |
What should I consider when choosing a nickname?
Your nickname is the name that you will see when you login. It is also the name that will appear in rankings charts, so please choose carefully and avoid anything that could cause offence and reflect negatively on you.
Here are some hints to help you decide on your nickname:
- Opt for an alias that reflects your personality
- You may like to use the names of your favourite pets, movie characters, sports stars etc.
- Include memorable numbers in your nickname to make it unique from the others.
Remember, your nickname is an extension of you. Have fun with it, but also remember that what you choose could affect you in the long term so choose carefully and creatively.
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1.6 |
About EB Mobile App
You can download 'EB Mobile App' from browser from Apple 'Apps Store' or Android 'Google Play' before doing the programme.
Go to ‘Apps’, then click ‘More’ and search ‘EB mobile’
You can also scan the following QR codes to download the EB Mobile App.
(Note: EB Mobile App cannot be run on lessons for EB Foundation Level)
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Questions during lessons
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2.1 |
I can't start my lesson after pressing the Start Lesson button. What should I do?
It is known that some old versions of "Toolbars" which have "Pop-up blocker" feature may block your English Builder operations.
To resolve this problem, please disable pop-up blocker as follows:
Google Toolbar
- Open your Internet Explorer
- Find Google Toolbar under your Internet Explorer
- Find Settings button on the Google Toobar > Click Options...
- Find More tab
- Finding Enable Pop-up Blocker and uncheck it (Disable Pop-up Blocker)
- Click OK to save and exit
Yahoo! Toolbar
- Open your Internet Explorer
- Find Yahoo! Toolbar under your Internet Explorer
- Find Pop-up Blocker button on the Yahoo! Toobar
- Find Enable Pop-up Blocker and uncheck it (Disable Pop-up Blocker)
Crawler Toolbar
- It is recommended to uninstall this toolbar from your computer.
Conflict of Toolbars
If you have both Google and Yahoo! "Toolbars", it is recommended that you uninstall one of them to avoid potential conflict between both toolbars.
If your problem still exists, or you need further information, you can email our Customer Service Department at eb or call our service hotline (852) 3188 2600 during our office hours. Please state clearly your School Name, Class and Username.
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2.2 |
I can’t start my lesson and “Lesson Timeout” is shown. What should I do?
Your login will expire after being idle for 15 minutes. Please re-login to English Builder if you see a session timeout. If you constantly encounter session timeout problems on your computer, please try to delete the browser's cookies as shown below:-
For Internet Explorer 6
- Logout English Builder
- Close all Internet Explorer
- Reopen a new Internet Explorer
- Find Tools
- Click Internet Options...
- Click Delete Cookies... button under General tab
- Click OK to confirm deleting all cookies from your temporary folder
- Login to English Builder and start a lesson
For Internet Explorer 7
- Logout English Builder
- Close all Internet Explorer
- Reopen a new Internet Explorer
- Find Tools
- Click Internet Options...
- Click Delete... button under General tab
- Click Delete cookies button
- Click Yes to confirm deleting all cookies from your temporary folder
- Login to English Builder and start a lesson
If your problem still exists, or you need further information, you can email our Customer Service Department at eb or call our service hotline (852) 3188 2600 during our office hours. Please state clearly your School Name, Class and Username.
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2.3 |
I can't do the Speaking exercise. What should I do?
To use the new recording feature, Flash 10 should be installed. The system will automatically detect if you need to upgrade your flash player or not. You will also need a microphone to do the recording.
If you need further information, you can email our Customer Service Department at eb or call our service hotline (852) 3188 2600 during our office hours. Please state clearly your School Name, Class and Username.
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2.4 |
Why do we have “Easy” and “Challenging” sub-levels to choose from?
The new English Builder is designed to address learner diversity. Students can work on the "Easy" sub-level to strengthen their basic skills. Students looking for a challenge can work on the "Challenging" sub-level to test their abilities.
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2.5 |
What are the differences between the two sub-levels?
The length of the passages, the number of questions, the use of vocabulary and the question formats differ between "Easy" and "Challenging". If you work on the "Easy" sub-level, the maximum score you can get is 85%. If you work on the "Challenging" sub-level, you will have a chance to get full marks.
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About submission
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3.1 |
I have submitted my lesson, but the system has no record. What should I do?
It is known that some old versions of "Toolbars" which have "Pop-up blocker" feature may block your English Builder operations.
To resolve this problem, please disable pop-up blocker as follows:
Google Toolbar
- Open your Internet Explorer
- Find Google Toolbar under your Internet Explorer
- Find Settings button on the Google Toobar > Click Options...
- Find More tab
- Finding Enable Pop-up Blocker and uncheck it (Disable Pop-up Blocker)
- Click OK to save and exit
Yahoo! Toolbar
- Open your Internet Explorer
- Find Yahoo! Toolbar under your Internet Explorer
- Find Pop-up Blocker button on the Yahoo! Toobar
- Find Enable Pop-up Blocker and uncheck it (Disable Pop-up Blocker)
Crawler Toolbar
- It is recommended to uninstall this toolbar from your computer.
Conflict of Toolbars
If you have both Google and Yahoo! "Toolbars", it is recommended that you uninstall one of them to avoid potential conflict between both toolbars.
If your problem still exists, or you need further information, you can email our Customer Service Department at service or call our service hotline (852) 3188 2600 during our office hours. Please state clearly your School Name, Class and Username.
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3.2 |
Can I do my lesson outside the scheduled date?
Yes, you may do your lessons within 90 days of the scheduled date.
If you have any questions about your exercises, you can email our Customer Service Department at service or call our service hotline (852) 3188 2600 during our office hours. Please state clearly your School Name, Class and Username.
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3.3 |
Can I re-do my submitted lessons or part of exercises?
English Builder will allow a student to re-do any completed lesson/s with the permission and approval of his or her teacher. Such requests should be made by the teacher and action will be taken only upon the teacher's instructions. If there is any special reason to re-do any lesson, please feel free to share it with us and we shall review it on a case by case basis to maintain fairness in the English Builder Rankings.
Should you have any further enquiries, please feel free to contact us at service.
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3.4 |
How can I revise the lessons after submission?
You can revise your lesson by clicking on the specified date of the calendar. |
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Score and answers
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4.1 |
How is the score calculated?
Listening |
Video |
- |
Questions |
25% |
Vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
- |
Questions |
25% |
Reading |
25%
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Speaking |
Optional |
Usage |
25% |
Total |
100% |
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ARL
Vocabulary and Collocation |
25% |
Parts of Speech |
25% |
Preposition and Linking Words |
25% |
Proofreading |
25% |
Total |
100% |
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Foundation Level (FL)
Listening |
Video |
- |
- |
Questions |
10% |
40% |
Exercise |
- |
- |
Vocabulary |
40% |
30% |
Grammar |
- |
- |
Writing |
- |
- |
Usage |
50% |
30% |
Total |
100% |
100% |
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Revision
Vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
- |
Questions |
50% |
Usage |
50% |
Speaking |
Optional |
Total |
100% |
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4.2 |
I answered all the questions correctly. Why can't I get the full score?
If you find your score is lower than expected, please be reminded that you should participate in all learning activities in order to try and score every point. These activities include any answers, play buttons, videos and sound clips. |
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4.3 |
Can I review the answers of pre-assessment?
You cannot review the pre-assessment answers since pre- and post-assessment are used to assess and compare students’ learning progress.
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4.4 |
Some students are copying answers online. How can we avoid it?
Last year we identified this problem and have implemented the following:
- Advanced Encryption. We improved our encryption so now people cannot copy and paste the answers. This was the main way students cheated. We solved it.
- No Multiple Windows. Students see disordered code if they try to use a browser’s open link in new window function.
- No Duplicate Login. We have eradicated the ability to login EB with different browsers or PCs and just copy the answers from one to the other.
- No Logout in Lessons. If they close the browsers, their answers will still be recorded.
- Posting Answers on websites. Any reports coming to us are followed through. We try to discourage and warn them before we take actions.
- Random Question Generation Randomly generated questions ensure a different set of questions for every student
The ONLY way to cheat on EB.
- Call a friend and have the answers supplied, post answers to individuals, or correctly guess them.
Unfortunately ALL homework offers the opportunity for cheating, but we have put in place measures to address this problem as far as possible.
We use an ARL (Assessment for Reinforced Learning) every month, where the answers are not shown, and cannot be supplied by any method known or used to date.
Hence, it is easy to identify those that cheat on the normal lessons. The reports automatically include ARL scores to give a complete picture of student learning.
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4.5 |
Why do we show the answers? Doesn’t this help students to cheat?
We display the answers as it is proven to help students' learning, and we don’t want to penalise the vast majority of learners who do not cheat.
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Rankings
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5.1 |
How often will the Rankings be updated?
The rankings are updated every 15 minutes.
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Pedagogy
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6.1 |
Why do we start with listening for English learning?
The research and the experts agree: learning how to listen is the first step in learning any language. That is why EB and Fun ‘n’ Friends put listening centre stage in all our English lessons. Students always begin with a listening exercise, then progress through reading, speaking and writing.
Our lessons are defined by :
1) Authenticity
Authentic texts are those that have been produced in the course of genuine communication. Examples include news reports, advertisements, film clips and trailers. Use of authentic texts, such as those used in Fun and Friends, helps students cope successfully with genuine communication outside the classroom.
(For further information on the importance of authenticity in language learning, please see the reference on David Nunan below.)
2) Input
Listening has been viewed as a primary vehicle for language learning, and comprehensive input is a necessary condition for language learning.
(For further information on the importance of input in language learning, please see the reference on Michael Rost below.)
3) Effectiveness
Effective teaching involves
- careful selection of input sources (appropriately authentic, interesting, varied and challenging)
- integration of listening with other learning purposes (with appropriate links to speaking, reading and writing)
(For further information on the importance of effective teaching in language learning, please see the reference on Michael Rost below.)
4) Listen, Listen, Listen to English
Listening is especially important for beginners. Beginners should spend 95% of their study time listening to English.
5) 先聽讀後說寫
「學習英語要由聆聽和閱讀開始,多練習說話未必有幫助。學英文不應從單字或文法開始,閱讀一個完整的故事,有助孩子全面理解英文的運用和結構。」
~ 美國南加州大學英語教學及語言學退休教授 Stephen Krashen
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References:
1) From the Traditional to the Contemporary in Second Language Teaching and Learning
David Nunan
Source: FromTheTraditionalToTheContemporaryinSecondLanguageTeachingandLearning.pdf
About David Nunan
In 2000, Nunan served as President of TESOL Inc., the world's largest language teaching association, and was the first person to serve as President from outside North America. Previously Nunan has served as Chair and Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Hong Kong and has been involved in the teaching of graduate programs for such institutions as the University of Hawaii, Monterey Institute for International Studies, Sophia University, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and many others. He is Academic Advisor to the GlobalEnglish Corporation, and is on the Executive Committee of The International Research Foundation for English Language Education.
2) The Cambridge Guide to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Ch1 Listening (Michael Rost)
Source: http://assets.cambridge.org/052180/1273/sample/0521801273ws.pdf
About Michael Rost
Michael Rost is a prolific author of such global titles as Worldview and Longman English Interactive. He is also series editor of many popular titles in Japan, particularly the English Firsthand series and the Impact series. He has also authored several influential academic articles and books, including Teaching and Researching Listening. Michael has been active in teaching and teacher training for more than 20 years. He has taught in Japan, West Africa, Southeast Asia, England and the U.S. He specialises in oral language development and learner strategies.
3) How to Learn Beginning English
http://effortlessenglishclub.com/how-to-learn-beginning-english
4) 先聽讀後說寫
http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=213036§ion_name=wtt&kw=311
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