Acadsoc booklet v2

Acadsoc.com.cn

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Contents

Company Introduction............................................................................................................................. 3
Our Founders .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Acadsoc Milestones................................................................................................................................. 4
Online English Learning - What Makes Learning at Acadsoc Different? .................................................. 5

Flexible Learning Time ....................................................................................................................... 5
Real-time Online Interaction with Foreign Teachers ............................................................................ 5
Flexible Learning Styles ...................................................................................................................... 5
Our International Approach to Curriculum Development ......................................................................... 6
Our Curriculum Development Process..................................................................................................... 7
Course research & development........................................................................................................... 7
Acadsoc Language Learning Theoretical Framework........................................................................... 8
Acadsoc Language Proficiency Framework ......................................................................................... 8

Acadsoc Online Learning Process .................................................................................................... 9
Our Courses .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Our Teachers......................................................................................................................................... 11

Teacher Team Recruitment................................................................................................................ 11
Our Students and Learners..................................................................................................................... 12
Our Other projects................................................................................................................................. 13
Our Exams ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Sample certificate.................................................................................................................................. 14
Study Abroad Service............................................................................................................................ 15
Company Honours................................................................................................................................. 16
Appendix 1 Our Courses ....................................................................................................................... 17

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Company Introduction

ACADSOC Limited, founded in June 2011,
is a Shenzhen-based company with offices in
Hong Kong and New York. As one of the
earliest established online ESL education
enterprises in China, we are committed to
providing top-quality online one-to-one
English learning, English speaking training
and study-abroad services. Globally, the
company has staff of more than 2,700 of
whom over 700 are based in Shenzhen.

Our Founders

In June 2011, Anson Wong and Alice Chen founded Acadsoc Limited with the aim of becoming the best
Online English Education Provider in China. Both Anson and Alice graduated from the prestigious
Imperial College London in the United Kingdom. Having studied and lived in the UK for more than 15
years, they have set a solid platform for Acadsoc to thrive.
Anson has the following honours:

Co-founder of Acadsoc Limited ; Vice President of Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association
(HKHCA) ; Vice President of Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Association ; Vice President of Society of
Entrepreneurs in Shenzhen ; Member of Mensa International (Global High IQ Society); Member
of Hong Kong Internet Professional Association
Alice has the following honours
Co-founder of Acadsoc Limited; Member of Hong Kong Maritime Silk Road Society Member of
Hong Kong Internet Professional Association

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Acadsoc Milestones

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Online English Learning - What Makes Learning at Acadsoc Different?

Flexible Learning Time

Facing the increasing pressure of work and study as well as
the quick pace of life. It is difficult for offline English-training
institutes to match the time of their courses with that of their
students. To break the restraints of time and space, Acadsoc
adopts the teaching model of one-on-one online teaching by
native English teachers. Students can freely arrange their time
for studying. Our tutors are based in many time zones of the
world

Real-time Online Interaction with Foreign Teachers

Adopting the method of one-on-one real-time online teaching, Acadsoc
thoroughly breaks the large class system of the traditional education industry
in China. Students are now able to communicate with their foreign teachers
online. This setting makes the learning environment more comfortable and
contributes to the rapid improvement of student’s spoken language through
interaction.

Flexible Learning Styles

By initiating special teaching methods, such as
immersive teaching, interest-oriented teaching, guided
learning and so on, Acadsoc provides not only one-to-
one real-time online learning with foreign teachers, but
also a model in which Chinese teachers and foreign
teachers work together to help students with a weak
foundation to go through their starter period.

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Our International Approach to Curriculum Development

We have been developing curriculum for English Language teaching since 2013. In 2015, we decided to
map all of our curriculum to the CEFR1. This means that every course that we deliver and every
qualification that our students receive from Acadsoc, is measured against the international standards of
CEFR. This relationship is shown in the following diagram.

Our levels L1 through L16 are based on the levels of CEFR. The relationship between the two is shown
below.

1 CEFR - Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR)
https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/?

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Our Curriculum Development Process

Course research & development

Generally, the scope of a new course is predetermined by preliminary market research, our user data
analysis and inputs and feedback from other departments (Sales/Customer Service). From then on, a more
detailed research will be conducted regarding course position, teaching objectives, development
feasibility and potential learning effects. Once a course has been mass-produced, maintenance will be an
ongoing process.

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Acadsoc Language Learning Theoretical Framework

Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains2 is
where Acadsoc’s Language Learning Theoretical
Framework is based. In order to promote higher
forms of thinking in education, such as analysing
and evaluating concepts, processes, procedures,
and principles, rather than just remembering facts
(rote learning), we use this prototype when
designing educational material and when
simulating the training process.

Acadsoc Language Proficiency Framework

Acadsoc Language Proficiency Levels 1-16 divide learners into six broad divisions that can be divided
into sixteen levels; for each level, it describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading,
listening, speaking, writing and lexical resource. The six broad divisions have their root in the CEFR.

2 https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/

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Acadsoc Online Learning Process
Our online learning process encourages the student to
engage in a continuing improvement in their competence
in the use of the English language. Our basic one-on-one
pedagogic approach encourages the learner to engage in
speaking with tutors on a timed basis. This human
connectivity is scaffolded with tailored learning materials,
preparing the student for their next encounter with their
tutor. To encourage and to develop an almost addictive
approach to learning, the learner is continually rewarded
by self-testing, positive reviewing and more formal
assessment at stages in the learning.
There are achievement tests for every 20 lessons and final
test at the end of a course available to learners.

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Our Courses

Our courses follow 8 main branches or faculties:

1. IELTS and TOEFL Our IELTS and TOEFL courses are designed to improve students’ score in IELTS and
Courses TOEFL (especially Speaking Tests).
Our Business English Courses are designed to cater to business people.
2. Business English Our Free Talk Course enables students to learn English they can use in their daily life and to
3. English for Children improve their speaking skills.

4. Comprehensive English Our English Courses for Children are interactive, fun courses designed for children aged 3-
18.
5. Speak Out English We aim to make full use of the critical period for children to learn a foreign language,
6. Basic English develop their interests in English in a relaxing English-speaking environment, improve their
comprehensive English skills, and make them prepared for English learning in the future.
7. Academic English Acadsoc Comprehensive English includes Acadsoc English, New Classic English,
8. Leisure English International Communication English and Ace English. These courses are suitable for adults
which are starters or with basic English skills. The courses are step by step, aim to fully
develop students’ English ability.
Speak Out English is designed for people who want to improve their spoken English, which
includes Free Talk, Learn and Talk, Bridging Courses and other courses. It is suitable for all
students who love English, especially those who love to communicate with others in English.
Basic English includes English Pronunciation-Elementary, Basic English Grammar and
Basic English Vocabulary. It is suitable for middle school students, undergraduates and
adults who are at the starters’ level. This course helps students to build up the relationship
between words spellings and pronunciation, understand the basic grammar structures and
expand their vocabulary.
Course for College English Test are designed for students who want to take the CET4/CET6
or National Postgraduate Entrance Examination. The courses focus on the difficult points in
speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Leisure English includes English for Travel, Movie Appreciation, and Cultural English. The
courses are designed for students who want to enhance oral proficiency and applicative
competence of English, and broaden their vision.

The details of our courses and their mapping to CEFR are shown in Appendix 1

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Our Teachers

We have over 2,000 teachers from countries where English is the mother tongue or is an official
language, including the UK, the US, the Philippines, Australia and more. Each of them was selected
through a rigorous interview process, and received intensive professional training, which accounts for the
highly recognized cost-effective programs in terms of teaching ability and course quality.

Teacher Team Recruitment

Only 4%-8% of all applicants can successfully become our English teachers online, each of them has to
go through a rigorous selection process.
A candidate tutor must:

• be a native English speaker or live in a country where the official language is English.
• be a university graduate
• possess one of the following certificates: TESOL; TEFL; CELTA; IELTS; TOEFL; TOEIC or

have a B.A. in English.
We ensure that all teachers can guarantee their correct English pronunciation and ensure that they also
have a very rich training knowledge and background.
We have a formal process of recruitment which is shown in the following chart.

5. •Become an Acadsoc Qualified Teacher
Qualified •Entitled to join our bonus plan

4. •Conduct demo class and receive feedback from our
Demo Class instructor

•Will receive offer if they pass our QA check

3. •Complete an online training
Training • Extensive training with our instructors

2. •Conduct interview online with our
Skype Interview recruitment specialist

1. •Fill in application form online
Online application

For every 100 potential teachers that we interview, we expect that between 4 and 8% will be offered a
position.

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Our Students and Learners

Acadsoc, The Academic Society, is an international
online ESL company and we have over 100,000
eager Chinese learners who want to master the
English language. Currently Acadsoc delivers over
10,000 online ESL lessons per day.

We have students at all levels of learning from K12
through to professional English for Business

We have the following numbers with regard to
students:

Number of registered 600,000
students

Number of Active 100,000
Students

Number of Tutors 2,200

Number of lessons per 15,000
day

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Our Other projects

At the present, many local schools and companies in China are short of foreign English teachers, and
hence a lack of authentic English language learning environment. In order to solve this problem, we have
cooperated with many local schools and companies to introduce our online English classes to them. We
also customized our course to fit different schools and different company needs.

Our Exams

Based on our courses we issue certificates based on successful completion of the appropriate course of
study, and the secure English Language Test that we offer our students.
Our Certification indicates the course of study that the student has undertaken – their academic transcript,
and the results of the Level Test that they have taken at the end of their course of study.
The level test is described in Appendix 2.
Our security aspects of the test are described in Appendix 3

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Sample certificate

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Study Abroad Service

More than 30% of our students enrolled our
IELTS and TOEFL preparation course with
the intention to study abroad. Therefore, in
2014, we extended our follow up service and
set up the Study Abroad Department to help
students to find their best-fit schools.
Acadsoc Study Abroad Department was
established to provide “one-stop” service
(Advanced overseas study center & Youth
overseas study center). We have built a
long-term cooperative relationship with
more than 50 international middle schools,
universities, as well as 400 more well-
known education organizations via Study
Group, INTO and A&A and so on.

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Company Honours

The 9th Sina Education Ceremony is held in Beijing in
November 2016. As the most influential annual event in the
education sector, this “Up China”-featured ceremony gathered
leading education experts, popular citizen journalists as well as
leaders of education groups to discuss China’s education
industry, currently undergoing revolutions and upgrades.
During this grand ceremony, Acadsoc was honoured as the
Leading Education Group, and its online learning APP as the
Chinese Families’ Favourite E-learning Product.

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Appendix 1 Our Courses

Course title Acadsoc CEFR
Level

出国考试类 Examinations for Going Abroad
TOEFL (for international and tailor-made package)
托福课程（国际套餐，定制套餐 IELTS (for international and tailor-made package)
使用） TOEFL/IELTS Guarantee (for VIP customers)
雅思课程（国际套餐，定制套餐 TIG materials for YTB Club
使用）
托福雅思高分保分课程（专属用
户使用）

雅托邦专用教材

商务英语类 Business English
BEC 考试课程 BEC Test
商务英语课程 General Business English
托业 TOEIC TOEIC Test
职场应用英语 English in the Workplace
行业英语 Industry-specific English

少儿英语 English for Children and Teens
少儿综合英语 Comprehensive English
少儿学科英语 Subject-specific English
少儿口语专项课程 Speaking-oriented Course
少儿阅读专项课程 Reading-oriented Course
少儿趣味课程 English for Fun
启蒙学前课程 Pre-school English
国内义务教育课程 Nine-year Compulsory Education Course

综合英语 Comprehensive English
国际英语 International Communication English
新经典综合英语 New Classic English
阿卡索英语 Acadsoc English
全能英语 Ace English
成人学科英语 Subject-specific English for Adults

口语专项进阶 Advanced Speaking English
Free Talk Free Talk
Learn and Talk Learn and Talk
中外教衔接课程 Bridging Course
其他口语 Other Speaking Courses

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基础英语 Elementary English
英语发音课程 Pronunciation Course
英语语法课程 Grammar Course
英语词汇课程 Vocabulary Course
英语听力课程 Listening Course

休闲英语 English for Leisure
旅游英语 Travel English
电影英语 Movie Appreciation English
英剧美剧英语 Drama / TV series English
文化英语 Culture English

学术考试类 Academic English
大学英语四级课程 College English Test Band 4
大学英语六级课程 College English Test Band 6
考研英语课程 National Postgraduate Entrace Examination

项目定制课程 Program-specific Course
普宁项目 Puning Program
企业订单课程 Course for Corporate Order
环优英语专用课程 Huan You English
达梦斯 DMS Program
桥柱中学课程 Course for Qiaozhu Middle School

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