Eigo noto software problem

[himitsu]

Hi everyone!
First about myself, I'm new to this forum, but I wish I had found it before ^^' Englipedia has often helped me finding nice games I can use for my lessons.
I'm actually not a native English speaker, but I do teach it (I hope my English is good enough for ES and JHS, at least no one has complained yet^^). I've taught it for three years now.
Now to my problem, in my JH I have trouble with the eigo noto software (wanna use it for the challenged kids class).
Can't figure out why, but some pcs won't run it properly, while others do (even though they're supposed to be exactly the same type). Installing is no problem, but as soon as I double click the icon to open the program, only the "frame" appears, without the cover picture, but instead it says something like "loading". I left it for an hour like that once, but it didn't change. I've even installed newer versions of the macromedia flash thing, but without any change.
Now I wonder if any of you has had or knows about this problem and how it can be solved.

[Paul]

Welcome to the forum. I havent used the eigo noto software but I just had to comment here, maybe the computer is trying to tell you something about eigo noto.


Seriously I hope some of the more tech savvy types around here can help you out. Good luck.

[jessen100]

did you try it on a computer that you know doesnt suck? i know every computer at my school sucks and i get the impression that most other schools do too. I suggest trying it at home if possible.

[Otaku]

Welcome to the forum, Himitsu.

I haven't ever used the Eigo Noto CDs, knock on wood, but I can trouble-shoot your problem.

QUESTION: What are the specs on your computer? I'm guessing you're running something older than Vista and not a Mac since you're using a school computer.

What is your OS (operating system) and RAM? To check, click START-->right mouse click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES.

That should give us an idea of what's going on.

[himitsu]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.
I teach at 2 ES and 1 JH, the problems are at the jh. In our town, all schools have the same notebooks (almost 1 per teacher), they got them 1-2 years ago. They run on Vista, Ram is 2gb.
But like I said, on some the software works fine, on others it doesn`t, although they are supposed to be all the same. (Additionally we have desktops with huge touch panels (TV type thing), each school has two, and only those at jh don`t work with eigo note.)
Could it be some firewall setting? It looks like macromedia flash is the problem, but maybe it`s something else..
p.s. actually I don`t find the software that bad (don`t know any other one either), about 70% is usable, imo.

[Otaku]

Well, it doesn't sound like a problem with your computers being too old.

What are you opening the software using? What program? Windows Media Player? It could be that different computers have different versions of the Media Player. Older versions may need to be updated.

If the software is indeed using Windows Media Player, you might try instead to use 'VLC'?

Also, I've worked at schools where Macromedia Flash wasn't installed on the computers, which cause a lot of programs I needed not to open up. It was very irritating. If that is the case, and your computers are locked down, you'll need to get the 'computer geek' to go into the admin side of the computer and install it. But, that shouldn't be a problem because Eigo Noto is used for legitimate school purposes. Me thinks...

[jeisensei]

When I worked in ES I used the EN software once or twice in a year. I didn't really use it for teaching, but mainly for review games and the like. I have never had a real problem using the software, but for me it is really just a gimmick more than anything else.
What I found the best of those CDs (or are they DVDs?) was the folders that contained all the art used in EN. It can be made into flashcards and other teaching aids. Saved my bacon on many of an occasion.

[jessen100]

i have boxes full of flashcards and posters of the chapter contents that were made by the publisher. I would die without them. it makes class SO much easier to do.

[himitsu]

@otaku I don`t use any special program to open the software, after installing, an eigo note icon appears on the desktop, if you doubleclick it, the program starts (and on top it says macromedia flash 8).
@ jessen- you mean the eigo note card kits? mine have them too (one didn`t, but I had them order it). Is probably a bit expensive, but they are great, have lots of flash cards, posters, picture cards, even magnets (best magnets I`ve seen).
I do use the software in class almost every time (2 years ago, before the touch panels, I was using the cds), not the full lesson, sometimes just one practice for 5-10 min.
jeisen, without the software, e.g. when teaching 1st lesson of 5nensei, how do you know how to say hello in Russian? ^ ^
But of course, you can get around using it if you always say what originally the cd/software would say.

[Otaku]

Himitsu, I think we've just widdled it down. I'll bet you dimes to dollars that Macrmedia Flash needs to be either turned on (admin side of computer), installed, or updated. All three of those suggestions would need to be done by the computer geek at your school, all of which are free and take about 5 minutes to do once you gain access to the admin side of the computer.

BTW, who cares how you say 'hello' in Russian?!?! I know, I know...it's in the Eigo Noto. But, it's says "EIGO" for goodness sake...

[jessen100]

nobody cares, my suspicion is that its in there just to get the kids accustomed to saying weird shit in front of their classmates.

[Otaku]

I still can't get my mind around the stupendous logic of labeling English time in ES as 'international class' but labeling the textbook, "ENGLISH Notebook." Just because you teach 'hello' in 10 different languages and that people in India eat curry with their right hand, 99% of the books simply focus on speaking and listening in English.

I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, the only reason they don't label this time and their crappy Eigo Noto as "English class" and an "English textbook" is because then the J-teachers would have to get re-licensed (I'm thinking a ton would probably fail the English part of the license) and Japanese government is not allowed by law to create a 'textbook' to be used in school after WWII, but a 'notebook' is perfectly acceptable.

If all of this is correct, why didn't Japan simply create 'notebooks' for all of their subjects after WWII just to say to the rest of the world?

[moolooman]

Previet

[Paul]

Otaku, I think that the name for 5th and 6th grade classes is 外国語活動 or gaikokugo katsudo and not International Understanding or kokusai rikai classes. Reason being is that the foreign language classes are now "officially" graded classes for 5th and 6th grade and they are the one's that the eigo noto was created for.

The kokusai rikai classes come under the sogo gakkshu and are for the 1st through 4th grader's. There is no official class time alloted for English in these grades. However the 5th and 6th have 1 hour per week.

[Otaku]

"Foreign Language Life" in a textbook that is labelled "English Notebook"...something doesn't match up.

...and "graded"? Are you joking? The only thing graded in this country are slopes!

[Paul]

"Foreign Language Life" in a textbook that is labelled "English Notebook"...something doesn't match up.

...and "graded"? Are you joking? The only thing graded in this country are slopes!

From what I have been led to believe foreign language requirements mean that it doesn't HAVE to be English, but since just about everyone does focus on it, it has become English. But to keep it PC they call it Foreign Language's and not just English.

Yeah, graded, same as Japanese, Arithmetic, Art, Music, P.E. and whatever.

[himitsu]

@otaku & all - so do you mean you just don't teach lesson 1 of 5nensei?
About why all the greetings are in there, I'd imagine the purpose is to show the kiddies, especially the rather ignorant ones, that there is more outside in the world than just Japan and Japanese, and even if you can speak English, it still doesn't mean you can communicate with everybody (both common misunderstandings among Japanese, as you know). As an introduction to the English class and foreign culture, I don't think it's that bad..
@otaku - I'll give it a try, thanks. Though I'm afraid, the pc geeks at my schools are not as geeks as they think they are.. (sometimes I know better than them, even though I'm far from "kuwashii" with computers).

[jessen100]

it doesnt have to be english, thats why its not called english, there are schools that actually do teach korean, or chinese, or something else that is not english.

[Paul]

it doesnt have to be english, thats why its not called english, there are schools that actually do teach korean, or chinese, or something else that is not english.

Sometimes I think even English is "not English".

[himitsu]

my problem seems hopeless... actually our computers don't need any admin permission, so I (and other 5 people) tried various things, but still the same.. then I asked one "expert" teacher to call the maker (bunbukagakusho or so), but he was like "ettooo.. soko ni denwa shitakoto nai desukara ne...", and that was the end of it.. guess I'll have to do it myself..

[Otaku]

First of all Himitsu, I have taught ES in the past but don't teach it now. I got out right before the Eigo Noto came out.

That being said, IMHO I would try and convince the HRT to teach something more useful to the students. Just like they feel weird teaching a language they can't speak, YOU teaching greetings from all around the world when you can't speak most of them doesn't sound like a smart choice, IMHO.

As for Macromedia Flash, check out this link: http://www.ehow.com/how_4880723_install-macromedia-flash-player.html

[himitsu]

thanks, maybe I'll try a system update, like they say in that link.
What are you teaching now?

[Otaku]

I've taught the spectrum from pre-school, ES and JHS.

Pre-school: 3 years
ES: 5 years
JHS: 8 years

Currently, only teaching JHS...and only at ONE school. I love it! I get to know my kids and coworkers so much better.

[himitsu]

You`d only love it if you have good students and co-workers, otherwise you`d hate it ^ ^`
Mine is.. so-so (2nd graders are terrible), so I`m really glad to have ES too, which are much more fun too.
Btw, otaku, did you actually start this forum?

[Otaku]

Btw, otaku, did you actually start this forum?

...and the previous Englipedia forum, and the Englipedia website. I've put a lot of hard work into it, but I could have done it without all the volunteer support.

[jessen100]

, but I could have done it without all the volunteer support.

how very modest of you




my teachers clearly didnt yell at me enough to re-read what i have written, since i still dont do it.

[Otaku]

Thank you, but more importantly, I'm modest.


Cuoldn't ressit.

[jessen100]

http://www.google.co.jp/search?hl=ja&source=hp&q=freudian+slip&lr=&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=???

[himitsu]

At last, this problem could be solved too. It turned out that an eigo note software update or patch was necessary, which after a few calls we could get (by mail) from uchida youkou, who apparently made the eigo note software (which doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere).

[Otaku]

LOL! Yeah, the whole Eigo Noto stuff is a bit seedy. That's probably why the funds for it were axed, at least I think they were cut from the budget.

Glad everything worked out for you. Question, was the patch for your computer in general or specifically for the software? The reason I ask is I still don't know why the software would work on some computers but not others.

To me, that doesn't make sense that the software would be program-specific if other computers could run it...