GrapeSEED

Some of the research and theories that GrapeSEED is based on include the following:

• Functional-notional approach: Mary Finocchario, educator and TESOL president (1970-1971), and Christopher Brumfit, educator, "identify the functional-notional syllabus [from the Council of Europe] as an 'innovative approach' (1983:xi) to language learning and teaching which has as its primary focus the learners and the function or functions of language, that is, the communicative purpose learners wish to express and to understand."{{Cite book|title = Contexts of Competence: Social and Cultural Considerations in Communicative Language Teaching|last = Berns|first = Margie|publisher = Springer Science & Business Media|year = 1990|isbn = 978-0306434693|location = US|pages = 86}}
• Natural approach: According to Krashen, language "acquisition is based primarily on what we hear and understand, not what we say," which he defines as comprehensible input.{{Cite book|title = The Natural Approach Language Acquisition in the Classroom|last1 = Krashen|first1 = Stephen|publisher = Bloodaxe Books Ltd.|year = 1996|isbn = 978-0136099345|pages = 1|last2 = Terrell|first2 = Tracy D.}} Regarding teaching language acquisition, he believes "The best methods are therefore those that supply 'comprehensible input' in low anxiety situations, containing messages that students really want to hear. These methods do not force early production in the second language, but allow students to produce when they are 'ready', recognizing that improvement comes from supplying communicative and comprehensible input, and not from forcing and correcting production."{{Cite web|url = http://www.sk.com.br/sk-krash.html|title = Stephen Krashen's Theory of Second Language Acquisition|access-date = August 20, 2015|website = Stephen Krashen's Theory of Second Language Acquisition|publisher = Ricardo Schütz}}

The GrapeSEED program involves students participating in a teacher-led classroom where the English language is introduced and learned with materials and activities that focus not on grammar, but on language acquisition, or "'picking-up' a language."{{Cite book|title = Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition Language Teaching Methodology Series|last = Krashen|first = Stephen D.|publisher = Pergamon|year = 1982|isbn = 9780080286280|pages = 10}} With acquisition, "We are generally not consciously aware of the rules of the languages we have acquired. Instead, we have a 'feel' for correctness. Grammatical sentences 'sound' right, or 'feel' right, and errors feel wrong, even if we do not consciously know what rule was violated." This focus on oral language acquisition, paired with critical listening, defined as "the process of analyzing and evaluating the accuracy, legitimacy, and value of messages",{{Cite book|title = Communication in Everyday Life: A Survey of Communication|last1 = Duck|first1 = Steve|publisher = SAGE Publications|year = 2013|isbn = 9781483321769|pages = 127|last2 = McMahan|first2 = David T.}} is intended to help students first achieve an understanding of the language, and then speak, read, and write it.

The GrapeSEED program is used to teach the English language with children in preschool through second grade, economically disadvantaged students, and English as a Second Language (ESL) students.{{Cite news|url = http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-02-25/news/37295607_1_esl-program-esl-students-second-language|title = ESL program a 'game-changer'|last = Mumford|first = Lou|date = February 25, 2013|access-date = September 10, 2015|via = SouthBendTribune.com|archive-date = October 10, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151010200446/http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-02-25/news/37295607_1_esl-program-esl-students-second-language|url-status = dead}} It includes multimedia materials, teaching manuals and training processes.{{Cite web|title = Buckeye Learning Support Team Attends GrapeSeed Conference {{!}} Buckeye|url = http://salemquakers.k12.oh.us/buckeye/2015/06/06/welcome-to-salem-high/|website = salemquakers.k12.oh.us|access-date = 2015-09-10|archive-date = March 4, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043741/http://salemquakers.k12.oh.us/buckeye/2015/06/06/welcome-to-salem-high/|url-status = dead}}

GrapeSEED is sold by GrapeCity, inc., a privately held, multinational software corporation based in Sendai, Japan, that develops its own software products and provides outsourced product development services, consulting services, software, and Customer relationship management services.{{Cite news|url = http://chinawatch.washingtonpost.com/2014/09/japans_grapecity_at_home_in_xian/|title = Japan's GrapeCity: At home in Xi'an|last = Buchanan|first = Clare|date = September 30, 2014|work = ChinaWatch, a paid supplement to the Washington Post|access-date = September 21, 2015|publisher = ChinaWatch|archive-date = February 8, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160208035408/http://chinawatch.washingtonpost.com/2014/09/japans_grapecity_at_home_in_xian/|url-status = dead}}

GrapeSEED was created from the idea of Paul Broman Sr., an American missionary who wanted to teach Japanese children the English language after World War II. In 1950, Paul moved to Japan, and along with other families and friends, built a kindergarten school.{{Cite journal|url = http://sdtimes.com/industry-watch-seeds-yield-fruit-for-grapecity/|title = Industry Watch: Seeds yield fruit for GrapeCity|last = Rubinstein|first = David|date = July 27, 2012|journal = SD Times Magazine|access-date = September 16, 2015}} Established in 1967, this school, located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, was named Miyagi MeySen Academy{{Cite web|title = 宮城明泉学園 - Miyagi MeySen Academy {{!}} English - Our History|url = http://www.meysen.ac.jp/en/history_1967-1979.htm|website = www.meysen.ac.jp|access-date = 2015-09-16}} and is where GrapeSEED originated.

In 2009, GrapeSEED was introduced in South Korea and as of 2011 "...is already helping their children to learn English, elementary education by introducing such a program in the country in more than 270 kindergartens, children's homes, language schools."{{Cite journal|url = http://www.m-ceo.com/content/view.asp?cg=cover&seqNum=159|title = New market leader in infant and elementary English education market, "GrapeSEED"|last = Yong Joon|first = Kim|date = 2011|journal = Economy CEO (Korea)|access-date = September 16, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082816/http://www.m-ceo.com/content/view.asp?cg=cover&seqNum=159|archive-date = March 4, 2016|url-status = dead}}

In 2012, GrapeSEED was introduced in the United States at Mars Elementary School in Berrien Springs, Michigan.{{Cite news|url = http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/New_learning_method_helping_kids_learn_English_156033145.html|title = New learning method helping kids learn English|last = Clawson|first = Cindi|date = June 20, 2012|access-date = September 10, 2015|via = |publisher = WNDU Channel 16 News|archive-date = June 21, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140621025620/http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/New_learning_method_helping_kids_learn_English_156033145.html|url-status = dead}} It is used in the following 16 countries: Albania,{{Cite web|title = Courses|url = http://lincolnalbania.org/en/children/courses/|website = Lincoln Centers of Albania|access-date = 2015-09-10}} Azerbaijan,{{Cite web|title = Interlink "English for Kids"|url = https://www.facebook.com/interlink.english4kids|website = www.facebook.com|access-date = 2015-09-14}} Brazil,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfs.edu.vn/club/grapeseed|title=GrapeSEED working with My First School Kindergarten, Hanoi - Vietnam|website=mfs.edu.vn}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} China, India,{{Cite web|title = GrapeSeed English Language Solution for Kids - Delhi - EventsHigh|url = https://www.eventshigh.com/detail/Delhi/002673d1a045ee1f8e5176f82c5ace9e-grapeseed-english-language-solution-for|website = EventsHigh|access-date = 2015-09-14}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|title = St. Jude''s Play School.... GrapeSeed English Curriculum in Gurgaon India {{!}} Pre-School in Gurgaon India at UpFeet India|url = http://www.upfeet.in/details/?pid=318507&product=St.-Jude%2527%2527s-Play-School....-GrapeSeed-English-Curriculum|website = www.upfeet.in|access-date = 2015-09-14}} Indonesia,{{Cite web|title = grapeseed english for children {{!}} Love To Learn Indonesia|url = http://lovetolearnindonesia.com/tag/grapeseed-english-for-children/|website = lovetolearnindonesia.com| date=April 30, 2013 |access-date = 2015-09-14}} Japan,{{Cite web|title = Mizuho school|url = http://www.mizuho-edu.co.jp/eg5_en.html|website = www.mizuho-edu.co.jp|access-date = 2015-09-14}} Malaysia,{{Cite web|title = Proven Programmes {{!}} ActiveKidz GrapeSeed|url = http://www.activekidzgrapeseed.com/activeprogram.html|website = www.activekidzgrapeseed.com|access-date = 2015-09-14}} Mongolia,{{Cite web|title = Логарифм дунд сургууль|url = http://logarithm.mn/english.html|website = logarithm.mn|access-date = 2015-09-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160131113431/http://logarithm.mn/english.html|archive-date = 2016-01-31|url-status = dead}} Myanmar, Nepal, Russia,{{Cite web|title = Rick Norman Launches GrapeSEED Curriculum Program for GrapeCity|url = http://ricknormangrapecity.com/|website = ricknormangrapecity.com|access-date = 2015-09-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065143/http://ricknormangrapecity.com/|archive-date = 2016-03-04|url-status = dead}} South Korea,{{Cite web|title = 성민유치원|url = http://www.sungmin-i.com/program/07.do|website = www.sungmin-i.com|access-date = 2015-09-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151115015342/http://www.sungmin-i.com/program/07.do|archive-date = 2015-11-15|url-status = dead}} Thailand,{{Cite web|title = GrapeSEED|url = http://www.lertlah.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=235&Itemid=131|website = www.lertlah.com|access-date = 2015-09-14|last = Administrator}}{{Cite news|url = http://www.buriramtimes.com/culture/education/376-first-international-conference-at-buriram-rajabhat-university.html|title = First International Conference At Buriram Rajabhat University|last = Gall|first = Rob|date = February 18, 2015|access-date = September 14, 2015|work = Buriram Times.com}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} United States, and Vietnam.

{{reflist}}

• [https://grapeseed.com Official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20181116193254/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-3032197271.html USPTO Issues Trademark: Grapeseed English for Children. US Fed News Service, Including US State News, July 31, 2013], Archived copy
• {{cite journal |last1=Chang |first1=Daris |title=GrapeSEED Curriculum|journal=TESOL Journal |date=March 2015 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=193–194 |doi=10.1002/tesj.181}} {{subscription required}}

Category:Educational programs

Category:United States educational programs