How this exercise works

This exercise is used to enable learners to 'train' a sequence of 'structures'. In this context, 'training' means repeating the structure and so memorizing and 'internalizing' it.

This type of exercise is most commonly used in language learning, but can be used in almost any discipline requiring memorization and internalization — learning a multiplication table, for example.

The 'exercise' is not evaluated, that is, you are not required to input answers that are then evaluated.

In essence, the exercise presents a series of 'prompts' and for each requires a response from the learner, either imagined or spoken aloud. The exercise will also usually present a 'model' that shows you the way you will be expected to respond to the prompt.

Prompts can be text or images, and may be accompanied by speech or other sounds. If sounds are provided, displaying the prompt will play the prompt sound and displaying the response will play the response sound. You may be required to do the exercise completely aurally and orally, that is without visible prompts or responses.

You can work through the exercise using the mouse or the keyboard.

Using the mouse

• Say or think of the appropriate response for the current prompt.
• Click on the 'Show' button to display the response, and compare your response with this. The button will now be labelled 'Hide'. Click on the 'Hide' button to hide the response. For any particular prompt you can hide the response, have another attempt at it then reveal the correct reponse any number of times using this button.
• Click on the 'Auto' button to display the response (if it is hidden). A further click on the button will go to the next prompt, and a further click will reveal the response, and so on... The 'Auto' button is the most convenient way of working through the exercise.
• Click on the button to go to the previous prompt.
• Click on the button to go to the next prompt.
• Once you are feeling confident about an exercise, you may want to do it without seeing the model. In this case, click on the button to hide or display the model.
• The number of the current structure is shown in the meter to the right of the selector. The total quantity of structures in the exercise is shown in the meter on the right of that.

Using the keyboard

In this exercise you can show and hide the response, move through the prompts and move through the exercise automatically using the keyboard.

• You can see a list of the keys that are available and their functions in the control panel.
• Some keys enable you to move from prompt to prompt.
• Other keys show and hide the response, move through the exercise automatically and show and hide the model.
• If you are confident that you know a particular structure you can remove it from the sequence of structures by pressing the modifier key plus any alphanumeric key. This means that when you have worked through all the structures in the sequence and the program starts the sequence from the beginning, the structures you removed will not be displayed.