Scholastic ELT social-networking site wins innovation award

Scholastic’s Magazines Plus ELT social-networking website has won a British Council ELTon Award for Innovation in English Language Teaching Materials.

The educational website, developed by Mary Glasgow Magazines, publishers of secondary language learning materials, puts young English learners from all over the world in contact with each other. It allows users to chat in English, read news at their English level and share opinions.

With recent scare stories sending out a negative message about social networking sites, parents and teachers, the Magazines PLUS website counters this by providing a safe and closed environment available via a school or teacher magazine subscription. All activity is moderated by a friendly ‘English Coach’ who keeps an eye on the messages being posted and offers help with English.

Since the website launched in September, children and teenagers from Europe and Asia have posted over 80,000 chat messages, even choosing to use the site in their spare time to practice using English for real communication.

Site user Alvaro, 11, from Madrid, says: “I like to talk to people who aren’t from my country. It’s fun to chat with people you don’t know and I learn to write new things in English.”

Visit the Magazines Plus website at www.maryglasgowmagazines.com.