The Language Teacher
01 - 2002
Off the Presses: Thompson Learning
edited by Mark Zeid
We are again delighted that Thomson Learning is the featured publisher in the Off The Presses column, and would like to thank The Language Teacher for providing us with this opportunity to inform JALT members about our company.
Although the history of The Thomson Corporation is long and successful, the Thomson Learning story is just beginning. We are constantly expanding our products and services, giving our customers new and different access to the breadth and depth of information and experience to support you, whatever your needs.
Thomson Learning is one of the world's leading providers of lifelong learning information, with educational content delivered both through published texts and online through the internet. Boston-based Heinle & Heinle, incorporating Newbury House, serves as our principal ELT materials development center and maintains a strong editorial presence in Asia. Thomson Learning also recently welcomed the world-renowned college publisher Harcourt Brace to the ELT family.
We at Thomson believe English is now the language of international
business, science, technology, trade, tourism, and the Internet.
The demand for English language learning continues to rise exponentially
and shows no signs of slowing. At Thomson Learning, we position
ourselves in the forefront of this growth. Our commitment is to
make language learning more accessible, effective, satisfying,
and enjoyable for educators and learners worldwide.
Whether you need an integrated four-skills course or specialist
materials for reading, writing, listening, or speaking, we have
a choice of materials for you and your students. We provide TOEFL®
and TOEIC preparation materials, grammar, vocabulary, and ESP
courses, including Business English from South-Western Educational
Publishing. We also have a number of reference and professional
development titles from Heinle and Harcourt.
Our team of cutting-edge authors, based in Asia as well as
the United States, features numerous internationally-respected
educators, who maintain rigorous teaching schedules while also
traveling the globe presenting on their latest research. These
authors include such leading names as Donald Freeman, Rebecca
Oxford, Bruce Rogers, Diane Larsen-Freeman, and David Nunan.
Thomson Learning's satisfied users in Japan include learners and
educators in junior high and high schools, vocational/technical
schools and colleges, private language schools, junior colleges,
and universities.
In the Japan office we have six ELT staff, soon to be expanding to ten, with over 30 years of teaching experience. The ELT team is always delighted to arrange visits, workshops, and book displays at your institution. We also do presentations at JALT chapters around the country, display at the national conference, and sponsor key authors to attend the national conference to give presentations. We are sometimes able to arrange special visits for such authors to give workshops at schools and colleges. Please contact us if this interests you.
Publishing quality ELT materials involves a continual dialogue between educators and publishers -- your comments and ideas help us prepare materials that are suitable for your teaching situation, and are always welcome. Also, if you would like to submit a publishing proposal, we are always happy to receive them. Please contact us for a copy of proposal guidelines.
In an exclusive to the Off The Presses column, Thomson Learning is proud to announce that we are involved in bringing to Japan the most exciting new testing system in EFL for decades, called PhonePass. Developed by Ordinate, this unique testing service is the first automatic test of English speaking and listening skills for non-native speakers administered over the telephone using advanced speech recognition technology. With patented technology, these scalable tests are the only ones that immediately measure a person's ability and ease using spoken English. The tests have undergone extensive validations at Stanford and other universities in the United States, Asia, and Europe. The SET-10, SET-7, and SET-5 PhonePass tests are currently used in employee selection and for workforce development, by educational institutions and corporations worldwide. This test directly measures speaking and listening skills quickly and accurately. The test service is as close and easy to use as any telephone.
Thomson Learning will distribute the SET-10, SET-7, and SET-5 PhonePass tests to the Japanese market. Watch this space for more information in the coming months! If you cannot wait that long, further information on the test in Japan can be obtained from the Thomson Learning Japan office by phone or by email at <phonepass@tlj.co.jp>.
As a result of our exciting rapid expansion in the ELT market, thanks to you, we are actively seeking potential authors for workbooks, and teacher's guides, as well as textbooks. Please contact us at the number below, email us, or visit our websites for more information:
Thomson Learning, Brooks Bldg. 3F
1-4-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0073
Tel: 03-3511-4392; Fax: 03-3511-4391
Email: <Japan@ThomsonLearning.com.sg>
Websites: <www.heinle.com>
&
<www.ThomsonLearningAsia.com>
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