Ellis Championship 2007

The aim of the competition is to encourage undergraduate students to develop their English skills by using the Ellis software. The project began when the Stock Exchange of Thailand gave 2,000 copies of the software to 49 universities nationwide.

"Many universities want us to help Thai students learn English beyond just financial jargon. So, giving out the software and holding a competition is a good starting point," says Punsak Vejanurung, chairman of Capital Market Education.

Students who register to use the programme at their universities will automatically be entitled to join the competition. However, they will need to fill an application form and do a pre-test. The deadline is November 30.

From January 2 to 11 participants will have to do a post-test, and the 10 top-scoring students from each university will be selected for the finals as well as 10 students who show potential.

"We want to give students studying in other fields a chance too. If the programme proves that you are interested in learning and show improvement, you will be selected," says Suhat Sungchaya, chairman of Language@Click.

On January 18, 20 selected students from each university will take part in a Skill Contest and the best two students from each university will join the semi-finals on January 28 at Siam Paragon. Participants will have to show their ability in the English language by displaying their skills in reading an English newspaper, speech and the ability to sing English songs.

The final round will be held on January 29, also at Siam Paragon. The first-prize winner will get a trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Bt50,000 in cash. The two runners-up will get Bt30,000 and Bt20,000 respectively. The three winners will also get to go to Singapore for a two-week English summer course and their universities will get Bt30,000, 20,000 and 10,000 respectively.

"It's globalisation. If we don't know English, we can't compete in the labour market or search for information on the Internet," says Thantarath Pothanant, head of HP external relations, SCG Paper.

Ellis is also used to test people applying to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is used as a teaching material and to test English-language students at the Mae Fah Luang University. This software is used in more than 50 countries worldwide.

The software offers about 10,000 hours of interactive programming including video, animation and text. It covers various levels starting from the very basic such as the alphabet to advanced learners and helps develop vocabulary, pronunciation, reading and listening skills. And there are also different English accents in the speaking and listening sections.

"Learners have to respond to the software all the time so they don't feel like they are sitting alone in front of a computer screen. Only native speakers are used but they vary - they may be American, European or Asian - because in real life you have to communicate with various accents," says Suhat, who exports the software.

The Ellis Championship 2007 is organised by the SET in cooperation with the SCG Paper, Innovative Bizware, Language@Click and The Nation.

For more information, log on to www.languageatclick.com, www.tsi-thaialdn.org or call (02) 656 7070.

By Suwicha Chanitnun

The Nation