Perls Programme

The content covers school years 1.0 to 10.0 English Second Language (ESL).
The tutorials have international appeal and are written as low vocabulary/ high interest stories which engage the more mature learner. Each lesson is based on a controlled vocabulary for that particular grade. The program introduces 2000 words in 200 graded lessons that have been tested against readability indices. Repetition of the vocabulary occurs in different forms as the learner proceeds through the tutorials. PERLS uses the latest psycho-motor technology in the form of tachistoscopic (flashing) vocabulary which is matched to the sounds of each word. The use of a tachistoscope improves concentration, visual ability and optimizes the average span of recognition (the number of words recognized during a fixation). Reading activities use the well-known Directed Reading technique that prevents regressions and directs eye-movement in a left-to-right manner.

Sequence:
Learners may self-enrol or be enrolled by a facilitator into the Management System. All learners will be assessed using the initial Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Placement procedure.
The Management System not only records each learner’s progress, it also indicates exactly how long the learner has spent on the program.
Once the learner has been assessed and placed into the appropriate level the following sequence is followed in all the lessons:

Flash and Type – Lists of the 10 words that appear in the lessons are flashed and the learner hears the pronunciation. The learner then types in the word.
Fill in the Blank – The same 10 words are again listed with their meanings and the learner uses the cloze system (fill-in-the-blank) to complete the segment.
Reading – The learner is shown an image depicting the story’s content (visual literacy). In the first lesson the student is asked to read at their own speed. This is recorded in the Management System. In the following lessons the reading speed is dictated by the comprehension score of the preceding lesson. The learner reads the story using the Directed Reading technique at a pre-determined speed. The first reading option after the initial lesson is indicated for lessons up to number 10. Students will be advised as to further reading skills options as they progress. As far as possible, the students will be in control of their lesson. The facilitator always has over-ride options available.
Reading Comprehension – A multiple choice Reading Comprehension Test follows. The questions include testing skills such as: Inference, Summarizing, Extracting Details, Vocabulary, etc.

Management System – This system records scores for Flash and Type, Fill in the Blank and Reading Speed and Comprehension. The scores are indicated to the student; scores for all students are available to the Facilitator and may be printed.

In the following lesson the learner will repeat the methodology at a speed indicated by the Management System. Although the facilitator may alter the reading speed (words per minute -wpm) in the management System, the default is as follows:
Comprehension: 70% – 90% – Increase speed by 20 words per minute in next lesson
Comprehension: 60% – Maintain current reading speed in next lesson
Comprehension: 50% and below – reduce reading speed by 20 wpm in next lesson
Management System – This system records scores for Flash and Type, Fill in the Blank and Reading Speed and Comprehension. The scores are indicated to the student; scores for all students are available to the Facilitator and may be printed.

Spelling
The spelling in every lesson conforms to that in the Oxford University Dictionary. The spelling and meaning of the vocabulary in all the PERLS lessons is regulated by the Oxford University Dictionary