"Connect with English" uses the storyline or telenovela approach to language teaching and learning. The series follows the story of Rebecca Casey, a 28-year old Boston woman who leaves her job, her boyfriend, and her family to pursue her dream. Along the way Rebecca encounters everyday situations and issues that ESOL students face every day. Each half-hour program is broken into two 15-minute episodes-each corresponding to a chapter in the accompanying print materials. At the end of each episode, a model discussion session is included in which viewers see non-native speakers like themselves expressing their views.

Experts in teaching English as a second language use several techniques to facilitate language acquisition:

• dialogue is slightly slowed down and subtly simplified
• key lines are repeated, idioms are paraphrased, and important events are retold
• visual clues to meanings (signs, notes, documents, etc.) are presented
• and clips of the main plot events are previewed at the top of each episode and replayed during the discussion session, providing additional opportunities for viewers to grasp the action and cultural information of each episode.

Course materials address three levels: repeat beginner, low intermediate, and intermediate.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

101) Introduction/Rebecca's Dream
The program begins with an overview of the course and an introduction to the main characters in the drama. The story begins as we meet Rebecca Casey, a 28-year-old Boston working woman, who dreams of becoming a singer. We also meet her boyfriend Matt who doesn't think much of her dream, and her 17-year-old brother, Kevin, who doesn't think much about the future at all. Rebecca's considers applying for music school and pursuing her career full-time, rather than holding down a factory job and doing her music on the side. We also meet real-life immigrants and students who discuss the similarities between Rebecca's experiences and their own.

102) Differences/A Visit to the Doctor
In the first segment, Rebecca's starts to apply to music schools. Her father, a widowed, disabled firefighter, worries that she is choosing a chancy career, and that Kevin is not studying hard enough to graduate. Rebecca's best friend at the factory where she works is Sandy, who admires Rebecca, but in her own life, just wants to settle down and raise a family. In the second segment, Rebecca's father has a worrisome checkup from his doctor. He has to eat better and exercise, or face a possible heart attack-advice he ignores. At a Memorial Day barbecue, Rebecca talks to Sandy about Sandy's boyfriend Jack, who shows up drunk and belligerent. Both episodes include reviews and a brief discussion about the drama.

103) Celebrations/Breaking the News
In the first segment, Kevin graduates from high school, and Rebecca, after several rejections, is accepted into the San Francisco College of Music. She hopes to live free in San Francisco with her godmother. After telling Sandy the good news, she plans to confront her father. In the second segment, Rebecca's father tells Rebecca that he is against the San Francisco plan, but Kevin supports her. Sandy will move in with her difficult boyfriend, Jack. Rebecca and Kevin go shopping for a used car that she can drive across the country to San Francisco, but have no luck. Both episodes include reviews and a brief discussion about the drama.

104) Saying Goodbye/Leaving Home
In the first episode, Rebecca gives her final music lesson, while her father secretly goes shopping for a car to give her. After her last softball game, the team gives Rebecca a farewell present and Rebecca and Matt break up. After the segment, Matt reflects on the storyline. In the second episode Rebecca's father surprises her with the car and gives her a necklace that belonged to her mother. Kevin gives Rebecca a four-leaf clover key ring and Sandy giver her a dairy. Driving out of Boston, Rebecca stops at her mother's grave. The segment concludes with a review and a brief discussion about the drama.

105) The Stranger/The Motel
In the first segment, Rebecca reaches the Southwest in her cross-country drive, the car starts leaking oil, and finally breaks down on a deserted road. Rebecca gets worries when a stranger approaches on foot out of the desert. He turns out to be photographer, Alberto, who can't get her car running, but does take her in his own car for help. In the second segment, Rebecca and Alberto reach a phone, but can only leave a message on a garage's answering machine because it's already so late. They drive to a motel, where Rebecca gets the only room left. Alberto must sleep in the car. Both episodes include reviews and a brief discussion about the drama.

106) Negotiations/Photos and Farewells
While Rebecca and Alberto have breakfast, the garage has towed the car and started to work on it. But the repairs will cost $800, so Rebecca sells the car to the garage for $550, and plans to take the bus all the way to San Francisco, after turning down Alberto's offer to take her along with him. In the second segment, on their way to the bus station, Alberto and Rebecca stop in a beautiful canyon, where Alberto takes some photographs of her. They say goodbye at the bus, and both realize that they're interested in each other - but Rebecca doesn't want a boyfriend at this point in her life. Both episodes include reviews and a brief discussion about the drama.

107) A New Home/Meet the Discussion Group
In the first segment, Rebecca arrives in San Francisco, and is surprised to discover that her godmother Nancy keeps other borders too, and that she will have to pay rent as well. In the second segment, we meet some of the members of the discussion group. During brief interviews the group members talks about the similarities between their lives and Rebecca's as well as some of the circumstances within their own native culture.

108) Job Hunting/A Bad Day
In the first segment, Rebecca has a difficult time getting used to life with other boarders at Nancy's house. At school, Rebecca learns that her work-study program has been canceled so she goes on a job search - and meets some interesting prospects. In the second segment, Rebecca finds the job search frustrating and shares her disappointments with another border. Alberto shows up, and says her wants to tour her around San Francisco - and that he has surprise for her. Both episodes include reviews and a brief discussion about the drama.

109) A Night Out/First Day of Class
In the first segment, Rebecca and Alberto see the city and Rebecca meet Alberto's family - the Mendoza's who are now close to retiring from their family restaurant, the Casa Mendoza. Alberto has a divorced brother, Ramon, with a 10-year-old-son, Alex. Ramon suggests Rebecca take a job with his son's after-school program. In the second segment, Rebecca finds her first day of classes at the San Francisco College of Music intimidating and expensive. She likes the after-school program a lot, and meets Alex and his best friend, Vincent Wing. Meanwhile, Alberto is working on a deal with some investors who want to buy his parent's restaurant. Both episodes include reviews and a brief discussion about the drama.

110) Casey at the Bat/The Art Gallery
In the first segment, Rebecca is a hit teaching softball and gets a full time job at Alex's after-school program. Alberto send flowers, and asks her to a gallery opening Saturday evening. But his brother, Ramon is starting to appreciate Rebecca, too. In the second segment, Ramon is worried that his ex-wife may take Alex to Los Angeles with her. On her date with Alberto, Rebecca discovers that a photograph he took of her in the canyon is on display at the gallery. The Mendoza family talks about the possibility of selling the restaurant but, Ramon is very against the idea and the parents need more time to consider the idea. Both episodes include a review and brief discussions about the drama.

111) The Picnic/Prejudice
In the first segment, Ramon and Rebecca have a nice chat at a picnic for the after-school program, but are interrupted when some racist kids taunt Vincent Wang for being Chinese. Alex tries to defend him, but some of the other children in the program don't take the incident seriously. Vincent's father is so upset he pulls Vincent out of the program. The first episodes include a review and a brief discussion about the drama. In the second segment, Rebecca and the staff of the after-school program explain to the kids why racist names should not be used, and a guest police officer talks about hate crimes. All the kids in the program write cards to Vincent to encourage him to come back to the program. The second segment includes reflections on the story by Emma Washington - the woman who runs the after-school program.

112) A Difficult Decision/Guitar Lessons
In the first segment, the children in the after-school program all send cards to Vincent, but his parents stand firm in their decision not to let Vincent return to the program. Rebecca wants to give shared guitar lessons to Vincent and Alex, so the two friends can still see each other. In the second segment, the Wangs agree to the guitar lessons. Alex tells his father that he should date Rebecca - but at the same time, he hopes his parents reconcile. Ramon tells Rebecca that he may have to go to court to prevent his ex-wife from taking Alex to Los Angeles. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

113) The Retirement Party/The Phone Call
In the first segment, Alex reacts badly to the news that he may have to go to Los Angeles, but Ramon calms him down. Alberto brings Rebecca to the retirement party for the Mendozas, and Mrs. Mendoza gossips about which of her sons Rebecca should marry. In the second segment, Mr. Mendoza announces that they won't sell the restaurant. Rebecca's godmother arrives with the message that Rebecca's father has been taken to the hospital in Boston. Rebecca leaves the party, planning to fly back to Boston. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

114) Review/The Emergency
The first segment includes a review of the storyline as presented in the first 13 programs. In the second segment, Kevin meets Rebecca at the Boston airport and tells her their father's heart attack was very serious. At the hospital, the doctor is not optimistic. Kevin and Rebecca return home, and Rebecca finds the house a mess and without food. She questions Kevin about it but soon another call takes them back to the hospital. The second segment includes a review and a brief discussion about the drama.

115) Bad News/Brothers
In the first segment Rebecca and Kevin's father has had a second heart attack. They call a priest and telephone their father's estranged brother, Brendan, who lives in Illinois. Father O'Conner administers the Sacrament of the Sick to Rebecca's father. Sandy arrives at the hospital to see Rebecca and tries unsuccessfully to hide the fact that Jack has been hitting her. In the second segment, Brendan Casey arrives and reconciles with his brother just before he dies. Funeral arrangements are made, and friends and relatives are contacted. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

116) Grief/Life Goes On
In the first segment, the funeral for Rebecca's father is held and the Boston fire department presents Rebecca with her father's helmet. Matt and Sandy both stop by to pay their respects and Sandy tells Rebecca she's going back to Jack. At the gravesite, Kevin and Rebecca speak movingly about their father's hopes and dreams. The segment is followed by a review and a brief discussion about the drama and the discussion group's own experiences with death. In the second segment, the family reads the condolence cards and friends drop by with food. Uncle Brendan and his wife Anne offer to help Rebecca and Kevin any way they can. Rebecca tells Kevin they need to decide what they are going to do. They argue and Kevin tells her he can take care of himself. As they go through financial papers, they discover family mementos. The second segment is followed by reflections on the story by Frank Wells - Patrick Casey's longtime friend.

117) A Box of Memories/The Missing Car
In the first segment, Rebecca and Kevin find a key to a safe deposit box containing family treasures and substantial amounts in savings and insurance. This will reduce their financial worries, but they still have to decide how they will get on with their lives. Kevin tells Rebecca he resents her mothering him and he wants her to go back to college. In the second segment, the Casey family goes out for oyster dinner and Rebecca and Kevin give their grandmother's ring to Brendan. After dinner Kevin takes Uncle Brendan's rental car to go see an old girlfriend. Rebecca questions why she ever went to San Francisco in the first place. Brendan and Anne suggest that Rebecca and Kevin come stay with them on their Illinois farm for a while. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

118) A Breakdown/A Call for Help
In the first segment, Kevin and his old girlfriend talk about his plans for the future and why she didn't write to him while she was away at college. Rebecca calls Kevin's friends to see if she can find him. When Kevin returns home, Brendan, Anne, and Rebecca all reprimand him for taking the car without asking and Kevin storms out crying. Rebecca goes out to find him, and when she does, they finally begin to about their plans for the future. In the second segment, Kevin apologizes for taking the car. In the morning, Brendan again invites Rebecca and Kevin to come to the farm. The conversation is interrupted by a call from Sandy who says that Jack has hit her again and she's leaving him. Sandy tells Jack she's leaving him and he hits her, she runs and locks herself in the bathroom and Jack leaves the apartment. Rebecca and Kevin arrive to help her. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

119) Changes/The Farm
In the first segment, just Rebecca and Kevin are helping Sandy pack and move out. Jack returns and tries to stop them, but the police soon arrive and arrest him. Sandy goes to a women's shelter. Kevin decides to go out to his uncle's farm and Rebecca and him pack up their apartment. Sandy decides to take Rebecca up on her offer to stay at their apartment until she gets her life straightened out. In the second segment, Rebecca and Kevin enjoy a tour of Brendan and Anne's farm. Kevin decides that he will stay and help Brendan on the farm and Rebecca decides to return to San Francisco. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

120) Thanksgiving/Starting Over
In the first segment, Rebecca and Kevin enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving celebration with Uncle Brendan's family and Rebecca returns to San Francisco. In the car on the way to the airport with Uncle Brendan, Rebecca learns the source of Brendan's feud with her father. During the Korean War, Rebecca's father courted - and married - Brendan's girlfriend, who would be Rebecca's mother. In the second segment, Rebecca returns to San Francisco and learns that she has lost her job in the after-school program. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

121) The Pressure's On/Sharing Feelings
In the first segment, Rebecca meets with her advisor to talk about catching up in her studies. The holidays are quickly approaching and she'll have to work extremely hard to pass her exams. Alberto shows up and invites her to the opera but she hesitates because she has so much work to do. In the second segment, Rebecca studies for her exams with her schoolmate Bill, who invites her to come to an audition for a rock group. She cancels her opera date with Alberto, who feels sorry for himself and complains about it to Ramon. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

122) Unexpected Offers/The Audition
In the first segment, Ramon sends Alex to Los Angeles for Christmas. Vincent Wang has received a job offer in Taiwan, and he and his wife consider returning there with their family. Ramon visits Rebecca to deliver a gift from Alex. He starts to invite Rebecca to spend it with him, but then withdraws the invitation, believing he should first talk with his brother about how they both feel about her. In the second segment, Rebecca studies hard for her exams, and tells Nancy that her education is more important than dating. After an exam, Rebecca goes to the audition with her friend Bill. Bill's audition doesn't interest the studio manager, but he invites Rebecca to sing - she performs "Dreamcatcher." Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

123) Dreamcatcher/Gifts
In the first segment, while Rebecca is at the audition Alberto telephones the house. When she returns home, Nancy advises her to clear up the situation with the two Mendoza brothers, or the family history of the two brother estranged over a woman will repeat itself. The segment is followed by reflections on the story by Bill. In the second segment, Alberto visits Rebecca at the studio to tell her that he thinks its better if they remain just friends. After, he stays and listens to the song his gift inspired her to write. Rebecca and Ramon celebrate Christmas together at a community center for the needy. During a phone call, Alex tells his father that he's glad Ramon and Rebecca are spending Christmas together. The segment is followed by a review and brief discussion about the drama.

124) True Love/Friendship
In the first segment, Rebecca and Ramon exchange Christmas presents - and a kiss. Ramon suggests they spend New Year's together. Back in Illinois, Brendan and Anne suggest that Kevin go out to see his sister for the holiday. In the second segment, Kevin arrives in San Francisco just as Rebecca is finishing the new recording of her song. Alex and Vincent conspire to spend New Year's Eve together before Vincent moves to Taiwan. And, Bill tells Rebecca he is moving to Los Angeles to pursue his music career and won't be returning to school next semester. Both episodes include reviews and brief discussions about the drama.

125) The Lost Boys/A Very Good Year
In the first segment, Alex and Vincent go ice skating on their big night without telling anyone where they are. Alex falls and hurts his ankle and the two boys go to a hospital. Meanwhile, their families are worried and search everywhere for them. Finally, Mrs. Wang receives a call from the hospital informing her that the two boys are safe. In the second segment, the Wangs pick up the boys at the hospital and reprimand them for running off. Alex and Vincent explain that they wanted to spend one final New Year's together before the Wangs move to Taiwan and Alex to Los Angeles. Mrs. Wang tells Vincent the two of them will stay in the U.S. for at least a year. Not yet knowing where Alex is, Ramon questions his abilities as a father. Rebecca reassured him. Finally, the Wangs deliver Alex home safely. Everyone celebrates New Years together at the restaurant and Rebecca and Ramon see that a very good year lies ahead of them.