Into the Blend

The Quartet English Teaching Blended Method

This document represents a sample of a possible Quartet Blends. All figures in this document may be re-adjusted and tailored to suit the needs of each group or institution.

Key assumptions made in constructing this sample are:

  1. Duration of an academic hour is 45 minutes.
  2. Two main issues of the blend are: intensity of meetings and proportion between classroom training (student-teacher interaction) and computer-based learning.
  3. The computer lessons can be held either with teacher or mentor in class or at home at the students’ own time.
  4. Classroom training/teaching is always with a certified English teacher and is a group event, while computer lessons are either in class, with or without a teacher/assistant or at home and are individually paced events.
  5. Each student / group of students is assigned a mentor that tracks students’ study (through the LMS) and maintains the learning framework.

Balancing the Blend: Intensity of Studies

It is suggested that the first course Quartet Starter (for beginners) should be designed and delivered as intensively as possible. In this sample the courses are taken four times a week. Quartet 1-9 can be designed to be delivered with a less intensive schedule and in this sample the intensity is set for 3 times a week.

Balancing the Blend: Proportion of Classroom Time vs. Computer Time

To simplify the blend composite we have used a coloring indexing system, where the green color is for the teacher-driven classroom interaction and the yellow is used for computer lessons (either in a computer lab or at home) where students can progress at their own pace.

In general, Q suggests that each level should be designed in such a way that the first encounters are classroom teaching, this way students are first introduced to the material in the Course Book with the teacher and then work on the computer (working on the corresponding material on both the Course Books and the Computer).

Course Duration Breakdown

The sample of course plan described within this document will bring the student low advanced level according to the Council of Europe and the European Common Framework (TOEFL equivalent 550/230) within 600-650 hours of work. This, of course, is totally dependent upon the intensity of the course, duration of sessions and the supporting e-mentoring and e-tutoring solutions provided.

SampleBlendBuilding Blocks

The following tables demonstrate a possible blended design for several courses.

Q will build with each customer a blend that best suits the customer’s ultimate need.

QUARTET STARTER (For Beginners)

No. of
weeks / Duration of lessons / Sessions
1. session / 2. session / 3. session / 4. session / Weekly Hours
1. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1/a.
Pg. 2-4 / Greetings / Unit 1-Part 2/a.
Pg. 9-10 / Pronunciation
(No. 1) / 8
45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1/b.
Pg. 5-8 / Unit 1-Part 2/b.
Pg. 11-16
2. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1/a.
Pg. 18-19 / Saying Hello / Unit 2-Part 2/a.
Pg. 25-27 / Meeting Peter / 8
45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1/b.
Pg. 20-24 / Unit 2-Part 2/b.
Pg. 28-32
3. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1/a.
Pg. 34-36 / Meeting Electra
(VIDEO 1) / Unit 3-Part 2/a.
Pg. 40-43 / Meeting
Electra
(VIDEO 1) / 8
45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1/b.
Pg. 37-39 / Unit 3-Part 2/b.
Pg. 44-50
4. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1/a.
Pg. 52-55 / Food and Drink / Unit 4-Part 2/a.
Pg. 59-61 / Pronunciation
(No. 2) / 8
45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1/b.
Pg. 56-58 / Unit 4-Part 2/b.
Pg. 62-64
5. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1/a.
Pg. 66-68 / Times and Dates / Unit 5-Part 2/a.
Pg. 73-75 / Food
Shopping
(VIDEO 2) / 8
45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1/b.
Pg. 69-72 / Unit 5-Part 2/b.
Pg. 76-80
6. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 6-Part 1/a.
Pg. 82-83 / Food Shopping
(VIDEO 2) / Unit 6-Part 2/a.
Pg. 87-88 / Transportation / 8
45 min. / Unit 6-Part 1/b.
Pg. 84-86 / Unit 6-Part 2/b.
Pg. 89-94
7. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 7-Review
Pg. 96-98 / Pronunciation
(No. 3) / Unit 7- Review
Pg. 102-105 / The
Neighborhood / 8
45 min. / Unit 7- Review
Pg. 99-101
8. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 8-Part 1/a.
Pg. 106-108 / The Travel Agency / Unit 8-Part 2/a Pg. 112-114 / In the Area
(VIDEO 3) / 8
45 min. / Unit 8-Part 1/b.
Pg. 109-111 / Unit 8-Part 2/b.
Pg. 115- 119
9. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 9-Part 1/a.
Pg. 122-125 / In the Area
(VIDEO 3) / Unit 9-Part 2/a.
Pg. 130-132 / Holiday Clothes / 8
45 min. / Unit 9-Part 1/b.
Pg. 126-129 / Unit 9-Part 2/b.
Pg. 133-138
10. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit10-Part 1/a.
Pg. 140-142 / Pronunciation
(No. 4) / Unit10-Part 2/a.
Pg. 148-150 / Shopping Around / 8
45 min. / Unit10-Part 1/b.
Pg. 143-147 / Unit10-Part 2/b.
Pg. 151-154
11. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit11-Part 1/a.
Pg. 156-158 / A New Jacket
(VIDEO 4) / Unit11-Part 2/a Pg. 163-165 / A New Jacket
(VIDEO 4) / 8
45 min. / Unit11-Part 1/b.
Pg. 159-162 / Unit11-Part 2/b.
Pg. 166-172
12. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit12-Part 1/a.
Pg. 174-176 / Going Out / Unit12-Part 2/a.
Pg. 180-182 / Pronunciation
(No. 5) / 8
45 min. / Unit12-Part 1/b Pg. 177-179 / Unit12-Part 2/b.
Pg. 183-186
13. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit13-Part 1/a
Pg. 188-190 / Talking about Food / Unit13-Part 2/a.
Pg. 195-197 / Eating in Town / 8
45 min. / Unit13-Part 1/b
Pg. 191- 194 / Unit13-Part 2/b.
Pg. 198-202
14. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit14- Review Pg. 204-212 / Italian Food
(VIDEO 5) / Italian Food
(VIDEO 5) / Quartet 0
Level Test / 8
45 min.
TOTAL / Teacher-led hours: 54
(With course book) / Computer-based hours: 58
(At student’s own pace) / 112

QUARTET 1

No. of
weeks / Duration of lessons / Sessions / Weekly Hours
1. session / 2. session / 3. session
1. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 2-8 / Unit 1-Part 2
Pg. 13-18 / Paris 2 / 6
45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 9-12 / Paris 1 / Istanbul 1
2. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 1-Part 2
Pg. 19-34 / Istanbul 2 / San Francisco 2 / 6
45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 34-38 / San Francisco 1 / Mexico City 1
3. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 26-33 / Mexico City 2 / India 1 / 6
45 min. / Unit 2-Part 2
Pg. 39-45 / Unit 2-Part 2
Pg. 46-51 / India 2
4. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 54-58 / Unit 3-Part 2
Pg. 64-68 / Belgium 2 / 6
45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 59-63 / Belgium 1 / China 1
5. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 3-Part 2
Pg. 69-72 / China 2 / Italy 2 / 6
45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 76-81 / Italy 1 / Baja 1
6. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 82-86 / Baja 2 / Dead Sea 1 / 6
45 min. / Unit 4-Part 2
Pg. 87-94 / Unit 4-Part 2
Pg. 95-100 / Dead Sea 2
7. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 102-108 / Unit 5-Part 2
Pg. 113-119 / Florida 1 / 6
45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 109-112 / Unit 5-Part 2
Pg. 120-124 / Florida 2
8. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 6-Part 1
Pg. 126-132 / Unit 6-Part 2
Pg. 138-143 / Alps 1 / 6
45 min. / Unit 6-Part 1
Pg. 133-137 / Unit 6-Part 2
Pg. 144-149 / Alps 2
9. WEEK / 45 min. / Quartet 1
Level Test / Review with teacher in classroom / 4
45 min.
TOTAL / Teacher-led hours:26
(With course book) / Computer-based hours:26
(At student’s own pace) / 52

QUARTET 4

No. of
weeks / Duration of lessons / Sessions / Weekly Hours
1. session / 2. session / 3. session
1. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 2-4 / Grammar / Sympathy: Sorry About Mimi / 6
45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 4-12 / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 13-14 / Alcoholic Elephants
2. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 15-16 / Grammar / Child is Saved By Puppies / 6
45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 16-18 / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 18-20 / Fighting Among Animals
3. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 22-24 / Grammar / Famous People / 6
45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 24-28 / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 28-31 / Indira Gandhi
4. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 31-35 / Grammar / Charlie Chaplin / 6
45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 36-39 / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 39-40 / How Old is Old?
5. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 42-47 / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 52-53 / Africa: The Promise of a Bucket / 6
45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 48-51 / Grammar / La Tomatina
6. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 54-57 / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 59-61 / Around the World / 6
45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 57-58 / Grammar / Galapagos Islands
7. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 64-67 / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 72-74 / Fussy Kids Can Be Cured / 6
45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 67-71 / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 74-78 / Dreams: What Do Yours Mean?
8. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 79-81 / Grammar / Hypnosis is Still a Mystery / 6
45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 85-86 / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 82-84 / A Piece of Advice
9. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 88-91 / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 95-98 / Recipe - Chocolate Chip Cookies / 6
45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 92-94 / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 98-102 / Folklore on Food
10. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 102-105 / Grammar / Overeating / 6
45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 106-108 / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 109-110 / Dividing the Chicken
11. WEEK / 45 min. / Grammar / Quartet 4
Level Test / Review with teacher in classroom / 4
45 min. / Grammar
TOTAL / Teacher-led hours:34
(With course book) / Computer-based hours:32
(At student’s own pace) / 66

QUARTET 7

No. of
weeks / Duration of lessons / Sessions / Weekly Hours
1. session / 2. session / 3. session
1. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 2-9 / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 14-16 / Useful Underwear of the Past / 6
45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 10-10 / Grammar / It’s Friday!
2. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 18-18 / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 21-21 / The Language of Gestures / 6
45 min. / Unit 1-Part 1
Pg. 21-22 / Grammar / Learning English is Like a Dream
3. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 24-26 / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 32-33 / Fortune Teller 1 / 6
45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 28-31 / Grammar / Fortune Teller 2
4. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 34-37 / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 39-40 / The Hospital 1 / 6
45 min. / Unit 2-Part 1
Pg. 37-39 / Grammar / The Hospital 2
5. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 42-44 / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 49-52 / The Brothers / 6
45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 45-49 / Grammar / The Lost Earrings
6.WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 53-55 / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 59-60 / The Miserly Rich Man / 6
45 min. / Unit 3-Part 1
Pg. 56-59 / Grammar / Jenny
7.WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 62-65 / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 71-74 / Punishments / 6
45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 67-70 / Grammar / The Mozart Murder
8. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 74-78 / Grammar / The Wind & the Sun / 6
45 min. / Unit 4-Part 1
Pg. 79-81 / Grammar / Crime and Punishment
9. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 84-85 / Grammar / The California Gold Rush / 6
45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 84-85 / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 87-91 / The Amish
10. WEEK / 45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 92-96 / Grammar / Working At Night - At What Cost? / 6
45 min. / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 96-98 / Unit 5-Part 1
Pg. 98-99 / The People of Zambia
11. WEEK / 45 min. / Review with teacher in classroom / Quartet 7
Level Test / 4
45 min.
TOTAL / Teacher-led hours:31
(With course book) / Computer-based hours:33
(At student’s own pace) / 64