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"English, baby! Learning in the Computer Age"

- Headline in the West Linn Tidings 9/14/2000

Who knew that a quartet of 20-somethings fresh out of cap and gown could put together an idea that promises to revolutionize language education worldwide?

Who knew that without promotion and within less than a year of launching a multimedia Web site, teaching English as a second language would swell to 60 countries?

Who knew this could become their career, instead of the subjects they studied as undergraduates?

Who knew?

John Hayden, Miguel McKelvey, Zach Hoffman and Jon Reed.

With their office newly located in the West Linn Corporate Center, the four young entrepreneurs are going full speed ahead as they unfold their Web site, their careers, their lives.

Language education seems to come naturally to these young men. After graduating from the University of Oregon, Hayden, Hoffman and Reed traveled to Japan to seek their fortunes. All three taught English for a while before they began to explore their career interests at companies such as Hitachi, Greenhouse and Southland Microsystems.

Then Hayden got an idea, and began to experiment and talk to people. He wanted to bridge the gap he was never able to cross while attending UO. He had studied Japanese in Eugene for what he called "three painful years," but never make the grade to fluency until he went to Japan and became immersed in the Asian culture and language. "Traditional education gives you a good foundation for grammar and vocabulary," he said, "but there aren't as many chances for application when you're not immersed in it. To really become fluent, you have to be using it and listening to it and having real examples of it."

Hayden's idea was to bring to ESL students around the world the American culture and English language - spoken and written by native speakers.

He wanted to immerse them in English - long distance.

"While I was in Japan, I felt the rush of my learning curve taking off so much faster than it was back home," Hayden said. "And then while teaching English, I watched these (Japanese) people going through the same kind of struggles I had back in the university. They were stuck in the same patterns I had been in - rote memorization - but no chance to apply their skills."

He returned from Japan and teamed with McKelvey, a 1999 magna cum laude grad from UO's School of Architecture, to begin building the Web site that is the core of their plan.

Hayden wanted to supplement traditional education, not replace it. He wanted to establish links with real people and gain interaction.

Since last November, the two have added Hoffman, who returned from teaching English in Japan to found a Web designing company.

They've built the Web site; gained several thousand members, from 60 countries around the world; added a group of volunteer "Pals," native English speakers who will correspond with members to reinforce their learning; gained initial funding; and have begun to make contacts that will eventually grow the quartet's efforts to teach the world.

Not only do they offer an innovative approach to learning a language, but also the name they chose shows their creativity.

English, baby! not only identifies the business, but also the Web site: www.englishbaby.com.

"With our name, we tried to show our break from traditional education to offer a new innovative way to improve communication," Hayden said. "And the word baby signifies our link with pop culture and the excitement it creates."

The four young men are building their lives around a method of teaching that has received praise from other educators, but they are doing it in a 21st century sort of way.

"It's entertaining and fun," Hayden said, "because their favorite stars are doing the talking."

This virtual environment is not exactly the same as visiting the U.S., but Hayden says it isn't possible for everyone who wants to learn English to visit the U.S.

McKelvey's views represent well the motivation of each staff member. He says he comes to work each day looking for a new challenge.

"By relating to these (students) we are so energized," he said. "I've never done anything where I am so energized and so happy to be going to work in the morning."