English for Skateboarders Launches

In January 2024, the company OuiCommuniSKATE published a new educational website aiming to make the learning of English more engaging to school-aged skateboarders. The website contains educational videos and quizzes, all designed to appeal to its target student: the skateboarder who is learning English as a Foreign Language. (ESL)

OuiCommuniSKATE is the brainchild of qualified languages teacher and European transplant Chris Reuland, based in the State of Connecticut. Chris holds a Masters Degree in Linguistics and Literature from the university of Brussels and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education that qualifies him to teach in high schools. He has specialised in online teaching since 2018 by means of classes for learners of English and of French. After several years developing a website to teach French (ouicommunicate.com), Chris directed his attention towards English classes that were specifically made for skateboarders.

Skateboarding is known to be more than “just” a sport. For many, it is a passion that some would call a lifestyle. The inner workings of the skateboarding culture are well known to us, having popped our first “ollie” all the way back in 1989. Having inside knowledge of skateboarding was crucial to the development of our academic program, both in terms of the references used and the frame of mind of a skater. By offering skateboard-themed ESL lessons we are channeling a pre-existing passion and turning a positive into a positive. In many regards, skateboarders are a teacher's ideal student: It is a sport in which learning plays a crucial role. The average skateboarder is always out learning new tricks, discovering new places and associating with new crowds. Innovation and learning constitute skateboarding at its core. Including skateboarding references in our ESL teaching can render the learning of English more effective because it is fun and relatable. By addressing skateboarders exclusively, we are hoping to maximise a positive pre-disposition and a receptive frame of mind.

Our ESL programme covers the topics that a student would find in any grammar book on the English language: how to use quotations, how to conjugate verbs and how to pronounce the sounds of English. (Course details can be found on our website) A student simply logs into the website after payment of a yearly membership. Once inside, they will find videos that contain the teaching and exercises. With each video comes a little quiz. Students also have the possibility to ask questions by means of a comment. An individual Dashboard keeps track of each student's progress.

The website is designed for students of the 10 to 25 age range who are already learning English. The website is intended to be used as an extra-curricular support. (It must be noted that it does not currently teach a learner their first-ever word of English.) We are keen to work with schools and skateboard clubs and educational associations worldwide.

Our experimental “Skate + in English” program is an incentive-based sponsorship program in which we offer to sponsor a handpicked student who is currently failing ESL English in school. Once the grades are back up, we send them skateboard product. This program has the dual purpose of demonstrating that our teaching is effective and it allows us to gain direct feedback as well as develop a sense of proximity with our students. As the program grows, we hope to include established skateboard companies who wish to donate product towards education.

Phone: + 1 (860) 339-6480

E-mail: ouicommuniskate@gmail.com

Website: https://www.englishforskateboarders.com/

OuiCommuniSKATE is a part of Ouicommunicate, LLC.

Legally based at:

OuiCommunicate Online Languages, LLC

30 N Gould St Ste R Sheridan WY 82801

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