Mr. Kelly Ryan, Cultural Affairs Officer of American Center of U.S Embassy, Dhaka and Mr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Daffodil International University along with other distinguished guests at the launching ceremony of the English language learning app 'brimmEng' developed by the faculty members of English Department of Daffodil International University (DIU).
Launching ceremony of an English language learning app 'brimmEng' developed by the faculty members of English Department of Daffodil International University (DIU) held today on April 05, 2017 at Auditorium 71 of DIU. Mr. Kelly Ryan, Cultural Affairs Officer of American Center of U.S Embassy, Dhaka launched the app’ as Chief Guest while Mr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Daffodil International University presided over the program. The function was also addressed by Professor A M M Hamidur Rahman, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Science, Professor Dr. Engr. A K M Fazlul Hoque, Registrar,Professor Dr. Fokhray Hossain, Director of International Affairs & IQAC, Dr. Mohsin Reza, Head of the Department of English, Mrs. Shamsi Ara Huda, Assistant Professor.
English faculty members at Daffodil International University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, have developed brimmEng, the smartphone app that is designed to provide English language practice outside the classroom. The project began when English Language Specialist Claire Bradin Siskin, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State through the American Center in Dhaka, worked at Daffodil during 2015. She conducted several classes on how to use LiveCode, a software tool that permits language educators to create their own language learning activities. Since her departure from Dhaka, the LiveCode Team has continued to stay in touch via the Internet. LiveCode Team members are Ms. Shamsi Ara Huda, Dr. Bipasha Binte Haque,Ms. Sadia Zafrin Lia, and Ms. Mir Sadia Siddequa.
Addressing as the chief guest Mr. Kelly Ryan said, teachers are not only teaches on traditional way in the class. They also find out the way to how can teach to students more easier way. The teachers of the Department of English, Daffodil International University are the example of that. They invent a mobile app that will be help the students to learn English in easy way. Obviously it’s an excellent innovation.
Kelly Ryan thanked the innovative team and said, learning English is very essential for every student because of English is the vital part of higher education, career, job sector and so other sector. Now we live in the age of globalization. So we have to fight with international competitor. If we have not enough competencies in English then we obviously fall in trap. I hope so this app will help the student to solve this kind of problem.
In the presidential address Mr. Md. Sabur Khan said that globally we have found many changes but our education system is still now backdated. Change is essential in this sector. It’s time to technology and we have no alternative way to collaborate without technology. The teachers of the Department of English have done that job. I cordially thanked them.
Mr. Sabur Khan also aid to the students, this mobile app is related to your course curriculum. If you use this then you will be benefited. Mr. Sabur Khan also said, if you face any problem to use this app, you are requested to inform the teachers and teachers will developed the app as per demand of the students.
LiveCode is a scripting language rather than a programming language, so English teachers with no technical background can master the English-like commands. Since it is open-source, the Community Edition is a free download. The team members enjoy the process, and they like the idea of creating their own apps so that the materials will dovetail exactly with the curriculum. The current app is designed for high intermediate or advanced students; it includes practice in vocabulary, reading, writing, and listening. The aim is to reinforce and/or complement what takes place in class. The team is willing to share all our materials and have others adapt them to suit their own purposes. The administration at the highest levels of Daffodil endorses the philosophy of open-source and sharing. This free app is now available for Android phones in the Google Play Store. The source code is available at http://www.edvista.com/claire/apps/brimmeng.html. So far, with very little advertising students from 10 countries have downloaded brimmEng.
Beyond brimmEng, this project is significant because it represents the potential for teachers to create their own apps. Team members plan to develop additional apps at various levels of difficulty for vocabulary, reading, writing, grammar, and listening. More importantly, they would like to conduct workshops to train other teachers and teacher trainers how to develop their own apps. Today, Bangladesh; tomorrow, the world!
