New Introduction to AH-EPS for students

Inserted below is an excerpt from the beginning of the AH-EPS Student Workbook. If you do consider doing the free "TEST DRIVE" of the Introduction and Modules 1 and 2, this description for students might be helpful in preparing them. The video excerpts of the actual instructional stuff on Vimeo would also be helpful (https://vimeo.com/channels/479545). Not my 12-minute introductory chat with you at the beginning, of course.! 

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AH-EPS (Acton Haptic - English Pronunciation System) is a new, faster way to improve your pronunciation. (The word “haptic” means “movement + touch.” "Acton" is the last name of the Professor at Trinity Western University who created it.)

The complete AH-EPS program has three pieces:

•  Introduction Video lesson (and worksheets) 
• A Teachers Manual that comes with 9, 30-minute video lessons (what we call "Instructional Videos") 
• A Student Workbook that comes with homework practice video sets (3 to be done after each Instructional Video, or 27 total.) 

For some teachers, using just the Instructional Videos are enough. Other teachers use both the Instructional Videos and the Student Practice videos. If you are doing AH-EPS by yourself, you will need both.

Doing AH-EPS exercises is sometimes a little like:

• Sign languages used by the deaf or baseball players 
• “Tai Chi” moves used in martial arts or boxing 
• Dancing or workout exercise 
• A computer or “smart phone” game 

AH-EPS

• Will help you learn and remember vocabulary and pronunciation better. 
• Includes video exercises you do sitting or standing in front of a video player or a computer. 
• If you are in a school, it is a good way for you and your instructor to correct your mistakes. 
• If you are studying on your own, independently, AH-EPS will help you learn to be better at  correcting your pronunciation yourself. (You can also get some extra help online, by webcam, too.

So, try to:

• Do all exercises using a strong voice. Reading out loud is very important. Find a good place to do that so you won’t disturb your neighbors and friends! 
• Use good posture and breathing. (The video will show you how to do that!) 
• After doing the Instructional Video, try to practice three times a week if you can. Not every day, just every other day. For example: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for about 30 or 40 minutes each time. 
• Follow the directions carefully. If you are in a class, your instructor can help you check on the new sounds that you are working on. If you are doing AH-EPS by yourself, record yourself doing the conversations and then listen back to it once a week. 
• Do all the exercises. Even stretching is important, just like in sports. You will do a stretching warm up every day. It will stretch not just your arms, hands, eyes, mouth and upper body, but your thinking, your confidence and your English! 

There are 9 modules in AH-EPS. Each one consists of five parts: (A module is a set of exercises that teaches one or two points. A module will usually take at least a week to complete.)

Part A. 30 minute work with the Instructional Video
1. Warm up
2. Review of previous lesson
3. Demonstration of a new sound learning technique (called a PMP!)
4. Training in how to do the PMP (pedagogical movement pattern)
5. Practice using the PMP
6. Introduction to using the PMP in conversation

Part B. After doing the Part A, make a list of words that have that PMP or sound in them to practice with. (There is a place in the workbook for you to write those down.) 

Part C. Homework Day #1 (30 minute work with the Workbook and Student Practice Videos) 

1. Do warm up
2. Do review of the previous lesson.
3. Practice new PMP
4. Practice new PMP in Conversation #1
5. Practice with word list
6. Do one consonant video, if it a sound that you need to improve.

Part D. Homework Day #2  (30 minute work with the Workbook and Student Practice Videos)
1. Do warm up
2. Do review of the previous lesson.
3. Practice new PMP
4. Practice new PMP in Conversation #2
5. Practice with word list
6. Do one consonant video, if it a sound that you need to improve.

Part E. Homework Day #3  (30 minute work with the Workbook and Student Practice Videos)
1. Do warm up
2. Do review of the previous lesson.
3. Practice new PMP
4. Practice new PMP in Conversation #3
5. Practice with word list
6. (Do one consonant video, if it a sound that you need to improve.
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The TEST DRIVE will only require that you register to get all the materials (pdf) and free access to the videos for the Introduction and Modules I and 2, either streaming or download. (It can be done either in class or entirely as lab or homework--or some combination of both.)

To get the rest of the system will require purchase of the Instructors Manual (for access to the Instructional Videos) and  the optional Student Workbook (for access to the Student Practice videos.) Those will probably both be available through Amazon.com or Amazon.ca initially, soon-- I hope!