Tradewinds provides language learning solutions, offering great flexibility such as customer tailored, innovative solutions for mobile language learning systems, simultaneous interpretation and conference training systems, or multimedia learning platforms.
For many years Tradewinds have successfully fabricated and installed such systems for Universities, Colleges, Ministries, as well as many private language schools and training institutions.
 

QUASAR DTL.LAB THE MOBILE LANGUAGE TUTOR

 


In our days modern language teaching takes place at much earlier stage in children's schooling. With the need to understand and respond to spoken language, and to communicate in speech, teachers admit the difficulties that normal classrooms are simply not equipped to deal with this challenge. They recognize that modern classrooms must be furnished with facilities to bring authentic spoken language and active learning within the reach of students, but priced within the range of available budgets.
The Quasar DTL.LAB is a portable and mobile solution to the language classroom. It is a full audio active comparative language laboratory housed in a secure, highly mobile trolley and is equipped with a processor controlled master unit plus either sixteen or twenty-four student recorders and light-weight headsets.

 

Mobile Trolley


It is designed to run instantly: plug the unit into the mains power, switch on the master computer, define your classroom lay-out, put the student recorders in place, and the system is ready to operate. Low voltage power and all audio functions to the student recorders are provided through a single audio data cable per student position.
The system is controlled through a processor, high resolution flat colour monitor, alphanumeric keyboard and mouse.The master position is built into the trolley; a dedicated graphic user interface enables the teacher to create a classroom mirror including names of students and individual comments on the screen. A system inbuilt student response analyser enables the teacher to carry out multiple choice tests using a special key-pad built into the student recorders.
The Quasar DTL LAB allows a class to be allocated to either of six work groups with random assignment of students out of which four groups can operate in language learning-, interpreting-, or conference mode, and two free groups for self-study. Any audio source can be utilized to transfer exercise materials to students: two master cassette recorders, teacher's microphone, radio tuners, audio recorders, or the sound tracks of television and video devices. Four different programs can be transferred simultaneously to four student groups.
The system does not require a dedicated languages room, it can be used in any regular classroom. But the Quasar DTL student recorders can also be fitted into furniture and, as such up to 99 students could be interfaced with a single master console. All other functions of the system will remain unchanged. The Quasar DTL is available in different configurations: as computerized, multimedia classroom, or as multifunctional digitised teaching platform.
Quasar DTL is one of the latest learning devices introduced to the world's educational market. Renowned for its emphasis on high quality, user friendliness and reliability it combines modern system architecture and methodologies it suits for both education and industry.
 
References:
Warsaw University, Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Budapest
Culture Centre, Budapest Technical College, etc. 

 

Interpretation Training Systems & Real Time Conference/Translation Systems

The interpreter system is usually located in a conference hall where it is used for both, training and real time translation sessions.
Simultaneous interpretation systems are tailored towards the users requirements for student numbers, teachers and guest speakers and the size of the audience in attendance.
    
For training purposes the organisation needs to record and document both the floor (original) language plus the language translations by students (conference languages). This is done on the system recorder where both the original and translated language are captured for review and evaluation.   Other than for real life in-training systems it is possible to include several examiner positions from where teachers can select a particular translation cabin and listen to the original and translated language simultaneously as well as talk to the student (stereo headset, channel left/right with separate volume controls).
  
The audience communication uses wideband multi-channel infrared transmission to carry the floor and translated language with a public address audio mix with the original language in the background  through speaker systems within the venue.   For training purposes one teacher can handle up to four cabins simultaneously and monitor the live or recorded material.   Tradewinds use Quasar PC/AAC 2-track recorders (cabins) and DTL/AA panels with 4-channel selectors (examiners); in the cabins with a microphone switch function that allows two translators to operate alternatively, whilst both students can listen to the original language.   In some installations teachers prefer to use auxiliary a video presentation which permits students to see the speaker, read auxiliary texts, or other information. This is displayed on large screen monitors, or individual monitors (MM/MF) located in each interpreter cabin.   A rostrum is required for guest speakers.   Teachers can provide pre-recorded courseware from cassette tape, CDs, DVD, VCR or talk into the teacher microphone from which students have to translate simultaneously.   Tradewinds manufacture all furniture, booths and desks locally, and assemble the system from various sub-suppliers components (Edutronic, Sennheiser, BeyerDynamic, Sure, Kling&Freitag, Klein&Hummel, Soundcraft, Dateq, etc.