Educational Insights EI-2300 Language Tutor Manual

Grades
Pre-K+
Ages
4+
EI-2300
Language
Tutor
Language
Tutor
Language
Tutor
Instruction Guide
™

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Table of Contents
Why Language Tutor? ....................................................................... 3
The Language Tutor Cards ............................................................... 3
Let’s Look at Language Tutor’s Features........................................ 4
Before You Begin ............................................................................... 6
Getting Started................................................................................ 6
Using Language Tutor....................................................................... 6
Playing Default and Teacher-recorded Audio............................................... 6
Playing Student Audio .......................................................................... 6
Teacher-recorded Audio ........................................................................ 6
Student-recorded Audio ........................................................................ 7
Comparing Audio ................................................................................ 7
Deleting Audio.................................................................................... 7
Operating Language Tutor with the Adapter................................. 8
Operating Language Tutor with Headphones ................................. 8
Headphone Sizes ................................................................................. 8
Multiple Headphones............................................................................ 8
Headphones with Boom Microphones ....................................................... 9
Operating Language Tutor with External Microphones ................. 9
Frequently Asked Questions............................................................. 9
Caring for Language Tutor............................................................... 10
Troubleshooting.................................................................................. 10
How to Clean Language Tutor................................................................. 10
Battery Installation and Instructions ............................................ 10
Warranty Information...................................................................... 11

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Why Language Tutor?
Language Tutor provides an interactive, audiovisual experience that is appropriate
for a wide range of students: struggling students in general education classrooms
and in special needs programs, ELL/ESL students, and students who receive speech
and language intervention.
The system uses a multisensory, model-and-response strategy for language acquisition.
Students see the target words on the Language Tutor cards, listen to them being
spoken on the default Teacher track, and repeat them as many times as needed,
progressing independently and at their own pace. When ready, students record
themselves speaking the words and compare their speech with the Teacher track,
building their skills and confidence in a systematic and motivating way. Perfect for
differentiated instruction, individual students, and small groups, Language Tutor makes
an excellent guided or center activity.
The Language Tutor Cards
The Language Tutor cards (sold separately) introduce and reinforce important skills,
from readiness to beginning reading. Each Language Tutor card set focuses on a different
skill. See the back cover of this guide for a list of available card sets.
Each card presents a lesson, such as a letter, a word or words, or a sentence. The lessons
are illustrated with full-color photographic images. Each card is printed with a unique
bar code. Language Tutor reads the bar code and speaks the corresponding audio
for the card. The cards are color-coded and numbered for easy identification.

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Let’s Look at Language Tutor’s Features
Card Holder
Slip a card into the holder. The card’s bar code is scanned and the corresponding audio is spoken.
Tracking Lights
Tracking lights underline target information on the Language Tutor cards. Tracking lights only function during default
audio playback.
RECORD Button
Press the red button and hold to record.
TEACHER Button
Press the green button to play default or teacher-recorded audio.
STUDENT Button
Turn the dial to a student’s assigned number (1, 2, or 3) and press the yellow button to record or play that student’s
audio.
Language Tutor enables up to three students to record audio for each card.
Microphone
Use the built-in microphone to record, or plug an external microphone into one of the provided jacks.
AC Adapter Jack
Plug in the AC adapter here.
Headphone Jacks
Plug in any standard " or " headphone.
Microphone Jacks
Plug in any standard " or " microphone.
Speaker
Volume Control
USB Cartridge Jack
As we expand our card library, the new card sets will include a USB Flash Drive containing audio content.
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Let’s Look at Language Tutor’s Features
Teacher Control Panel
Battery Compartment
Place 4 fresh AA batteries in the back of the unit.
Teacher Audio
Set to LOCK to prevent students from recording over the default or teacher-recorded audio. Set to UNLOCK to record
your own audio to a card or if you are recording to a card created using the Make-Your-Own Language Tutor blank
cards.
Tracking Lights
Switch to turn the tracking LEDs (lights) ON or OFF. The tracking lights only function during the default audio for each
card.
Playback Speed
Users can play audio at a NORMAL or SLOW speed without experiencing any shift in pitch. This is helpful for struggling
students.
Delete Audio
You can either delete audio for a single CARD ONLY or delete ALL student or teacher-recorded audio. See pages 7–8.
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Before You Begin
While Language Tutor is extremely easy to use, it is important for students to become
familiar with using it before they begin working independently. Introduce the unit,
pointing out and demonstrating the function of the TEACHER, STUDENT, and
RECORD buttons. We suggest working with younger, more inexperienced students
during their first recording attempt.
Getting Started
• PlugintheACadapter,orplace4AAbatteriesinthebatterycompartment.
See pages 8 and 10 in this guide.
• SettheTeacherControls(seepage5)onthebackoftheunittoyourpreferences.
Using Language Tutor
1. Slip a card into the Card Holder. If the unit is off, inserting a card will turn it on.
2. The unit scans the card’s bar code. The green TEACHER button flashes, prompting
the user to press it.
3. If there is student-recorded audio for the current dial position (1, 2, or 3), the yellow
STUDENT button flashes alternately with the green TEACHER button. The user may
press either button to play the corresponding teacher or student audio.
4. Choose one of the following activities.
Playing Default and Teacher-recorded Audio
• PresstheTEACHERbutton.
• Thedefaultaudioplays.Trackinglightsunderlinetargetwordsonthe
card. If you have recorded new audio for the card, then that audio plays.
Note that tracking lights only function with default audio.
• Thestudentlistenstotheaudio.
• Thestudentrepeatstheaudio.TheTEACHERbuttonremainslit.
• PresstheTEACHERbuttontoreplaytheaudio.
• Thestudentcanpress,listen,andrepeatasmanytimesasnecessaryuntilheorshe
wishes to record a response.
Playing Student Audio
• IftheyellowSTUDENTbuttonisashing,theusermaypressittolisten
to the recorded student audio for that dial position (1, 2, 3).
• IftheyellowSTUDENTbuttonisnotashing,nostudentaudiohas
been recorded for that dial position. Turn the STUDENT button dial to
another student number (1, 2, or 3). Press the STUDENT button to listen
to the corresponding audio.
• TheSTUDENTbuttonremainslit.
Teacher-recorded Audio
You may replace the default audio with your own teacher-recorded audio. Some teachers
want students to hear a familiar instructional voice. Language Tutor has internal memory
to store a total of two hours of student- and teacher-recorded audio. New teacher-
recorded audio will become the default audio when the TEACHER button is pressed.

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The unit will not, however, delete the default audio. You may revert to the default
audio at any time. (See Teacher Audio page 8.)
• SettheTeacherAudio,locatedintheTeacherControlPanelonthe
bottom of the unit, to UNLOCK.
• PresstheTEACHERbutton.
• PressandholddowntheRECORDbutton.
• Speakintothemicrophone.
• ReleasetheRECORDbuttonwhennishedrecording.
• Aftertheaudioplays,theTEACHERbuttonremainslit.
NOTE: Language Tutor’s tracking lights only function with the default audio.
Student-recorded Audio
Language Tutor can store the recorded audio for up to three different
students on each card.
• TurntheSTUDENTbuttondialtotheassignedstudentnumber(1,2,or3).
• PresstheSTUDENTbutton.
• Ifthereisnoaudioforthatstudent,youwillhearabeep.Afterthe
audio or beep plays, the button remains lit.
• PressandholddowntheRECORDbutton.
• Speakintothemicrophone.
• ReleasetheRECORDbuttonwhennishedrecording.
• TheSTUDENTbuttonremainslit.
Comparing Audio
Comparing student-recorded audio to the default or teacher-recorded audio is
integral to Language Tutor’s model-and-response strategy of language acquisition.
• PresstheTEACHERbuttonandlisten.
• PresstheSTUDENTbuttonandcompare.
• Ifastudentisnotsatisedwithhisorherrecordedaudio,thestudentcanrecordit
again following the steps above.
• Thebuttonforthemostrecentlyplayedaudiostayslit.
Deleting Audio
The Delete Audio buttons are located in the Teacher Control Panel on the bottom of
the unit.
Student Audio
When you have reviewed a student’s recorded work, you may delete it from the unit.
To delete all of a student’s audio:
• Dialtheselectedstudent’snumberontheSTUDENTbuttonandpressthebutton.
• SettheDeleteAudioswitchtoALL.
• PresstheDELETEbutton.
• TheunitwillpromptyoutopressDELETEagaintoconrmthedeletion.
To delete the audio of a single card:
• SettheDeleteAudioswitchtoCARDONLY.
• InsertthecardintotheCardHolder.
• Dialtheselectedstudent’snumberontheSTUDENTbuttonandpressthebutton.
• Lifttheunit,takingcaretokeepthecardinplace.LocatetheDELETEbutton.
(It is the last button on the right of the unit.) Press the DELETE button.
• TheunitwillpromptyoutopressDELETEagaintoconrmthedeletion.

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Teacher Audio
In some cases, you may have recorded new audio to a card. You may retain that audio,
or you may revert to the card’s default audio.
To revert to a card’s default audio:
• SettheDeleteAudioswitchtoCARDONLY.
• InsertthecardintotheCardHolder.
• PresstheTEACHERbutton.
• Lifttheunit,takingcaretokeepthecardinplace.LocatetheDELETEbutton.
(It is the last button on the right of the unit.) Press the DELETE button.
• TheunitwillpromptyoutopressDELETEagaintoconrmthedeletion.
Note: To delete all teacher-created audio, set the Delete Audio switch to ALL.
Operating Language Tutor with the Adapter
With the AC adapter, Language Tutor can run indefinitely without batteries. Follow
these steps for using the adapter with Language Tutor:
1. Plug the end of the adapter cord into the AC adapter jack located on the left side of
Language Tutor.
 • Language Tutor must only be used with the included AC adapter.
 • TheACadaptershouldbeexaminedregularlyfordamagetothecord,plug,
enclosure, and other parts. In the event of such damage, do not use the AC adapter
until the damage has been repaired.
 • DisconnectLanguage Tutor from the AC adapter before cleaning.
 • TheACadapterunitisnotatoy.
2. Carefully plug the adapter body into a wall socket.
 • Language Tutor must not be connected to more than the recommended number
of power supplies.
 • Language Tutor is not suitable for children under three (3) years of age.
Operating Language Tutor with Headphones
Headphone Sizes
Language Tutor is equipped with two different-sized headphone jacks — " and ".
Optional " headphones are available from your authorized Educational Insights
dealer. The Educational Insights stock number is EI-3916. With headphones, a
student can work with Language Tutor without disturbing others. Simply plug the
cord from the headphones into the appropriate headphone jack, located on the left
side of Language Tutor next to the AC adapter jack. Only one of the two headphone
jacks may be used at a time. Plugging headphones into either headphone jack will
disable the unit’s main speaker.
Multiple Headphones
Several students can listen to Language Tutor lessons at one time. An optional
four-position headphone box is available from your authorized Educational Insights
dealer. The Educational Insights stock number is EI-3917. Simply plug the headphone
box into the " headphone-jack position. Then, plug the headphones for each
student into the headphone box.
A four-position headphone listening center equipped with a four-position box and
four headphones is also available. The Educational Insights stock number is EI-3919.
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Headphones with Boom Microphones
Headphones equipped with a boom microphone can help eliminate noise and improve
the quality of students’ recorded speech. Language Tutor supports this type of headphone
equipped with two separate jacks. An optional headphone equipped with a boom
microphone is available from your authorized Learning Resources dealer. The stock
number for Stereo Headphones with Microphone is LER 6991. Plug the headphones and
the microphones into their respective jacks, located on the left side of the unit next to
the AC adapter jack.
Operating Language Tutor with External Microphones
Language Tutor offers options for recording. The unit is equipped with a built-in
microphone. There are also two different-sized microphone jacks — " and ". Simply
plug the cord into the appropriate microphone jack, located on the left side of
Language Tutor next to the headphone jacks. Only one of the two microphone jacks
may be used at a time. Plugging a microphone into either microphone jack will disable
the unit’s built-in microphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t the tracking lights work during student- or teacher-recorded audio?
Because of the difference in users’ speaking rates, the tracking lights are set to function
with default audio only.
What if no audio plays when the STUDENT button is pushed?
If no audio has been recorded for that dial position (1, 2, or 3), you will hear a beep
and no audio will play.
Why can’t I record to the Teacher track?
Check the Teacher Control Panel on the bottom of the unit. The Teacher Audio must
be set to UNLOCK to allow recording. This protects default and teacher-recorded audio
from accidentally being recorded over by students.
I have two students working with Language Tutor using headphones, but one
of them can’t hear anything. What’s wrong?
Only one headphone jack operates at a time. You can have several students listening to
Language Tutor lessons at a time by using a headphone box. See page 8 of this guide.
Can I slow the audio playback for students who need that kind of support?
Yes. Set the Playback Speed in the Teacher Control Panel on the bottom of the unit to
SLOW. The audio will play at 70%–80% of normal speed without a change in pitch.
How long can the teacher-recorded audio be for a Make-Your-Own card?
There is no restriction on how long the audio can be. However, the total user-recorded
audio may not exceed two hours.
What if I get a “memory full” message?
If you hear the message, “The memory is full,” when you try to record, you will need
to delete some previously recorded audio to free up memory space. See pages 7–8,
Deleting Audio.
Why is there a USB cartridge jack?
Language Tutor’s card library continues to grow. Future card sets will come with a USB
Flash Drive loaded with the set’s audio content. If you lose the USB Flash Drive, you will
be able to download the content to any USB Flash Drive for free from our website.
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Can I make copies of cards made with the Make-Your-Own cards?
You may make copies of cards you create to share with others. Be aware, however, that
Language Tutor scans the bar code on the BACK SIDE of a card. This means that the
bar code for the image on the front of the card is actually on the back of the card and
vice versa. If you reproduce your cards, be sure that they are two-sided and have the
correct bar code on the back for the image on the front.
Caring for Language Tutor
Troubleshooting
If Language Tutor is not working properly, replace the batteries with a fresh set. Weak
batteries can cause a variety of malfunctions. To prolong battery life, Language Tutor
will shut down after five minutes of inactivity. If Language Tutor will not be used for
a long period of time, remove the batteries to prevent possible corrosion.
How to Clean Language Tutor
If you are using Language Tutor with the AC adapter, disconnect the AC adapter before
cleaning. Clean Language Tutor with a slightly damp or dry cloth. Do not immerse
Language Tutor in water. Do not spray liquid of any kind on Language Tutor.
Battery Installation and Instructions
For the best operation, always use fresh
alkaline batteries. Other battery types will
have a shorter life.
1. Carefully open the battery compartment
door, located on the bottom of Language
Tutor, by loosening the screw holding it
in place.
2. InstallfourfreshAA-cell(DC1.5v)
batteries in the battery compartment,
following the diagram that shows
correct battery installation.
 • Donotuserechargeablebatteries.
 • Donotmixoldandnewbatteries.
 • Donotmixdifferenttypesofbatteries:alkaline,standard(carbonzinc)or
rechargeable (nickel-cadmium) batteries.
 • Donotrechargenon-rechargeablebatteries.
 • Removerechargeablebatteriesfromtheunitbeforecharging.
 • Onlychargerechargeablebatteriesunderadultsupervision.
 • Onlyusebatteriesofthesameorequivalenttypeasrecommended.
 • Insertbatterieswiththecorrectpolarity.
 • Removeexhaustedbatteriesfromtheunit.
 • Donotshort-circuitthesupplyterminals.
 • Topreventcorrosionandpossibledamagetotheproduct,werecommend
removing the batteries from the unit if it will not be used for more than two
weeks.
3. Close the battery compartment door and tighten the screw.