Overview
Tense Buster, Clarity’s most popular program, helps learners improve their understanding of key grammar areas from some/any at Elementary level to phrasal verbs at Advanced level. The program is ideal as a self-access resource for extension or remedial work, or integrated into a course of study and used for classwork or homework.
Who is it for?
Tense Buster is suitable for all learners of English from Elementary to Advanced.
Versions
International English
North American English
With Chinese instructions
Indian English
What is the approach?
Each unit begins with a presentation based on a dialogue, newspaper article or radio broadcast, where learners are encouraged to form theories about how the grammar works. Next comes a grammar rule where they confirm or correct their theories. Learners then move on to practice activities in which the language is contextualised and key aspects of form and function are highlighted. Each unit concludes with a randomised test enabling students to gauge their progress.
Other useful features
The program includes detailed feedback in exercises to help students understand where they went wrong, so they can avoid making the same mistakes in future. Each unit includes a video-based pronunciation exercise relating to the grammar point. And on completing a level, learners can print a certificate – a great motivator!
Who uses Tense Buster?
Tense Buster has been adopted by the British Council worldwide, Ministries of Education in many countries, as well as thousands of schools and colleges.
Help your students break through the grammar barrier... with Tense Buster!
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System requirements
Network versions require Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
Online versions are hosted by Clarity
System requirements
There is a choice of licence types: network or online. The main difference is how students will access the learning resources.
Network licence
The network version is installed within your institution and can be accessed by students only on computers within the centre.
Find out more on how the network licence works
Online licence
The online version is available to students from any computer with access to the Internet. Students simply go to the site and log in. If you are using Results Manager (Learner Tracking licence), their scores will be kept on a central database which you, as a teacher, can similarly access from any computer connected to the Internet.
Find out more on how the online licence works
If you plan to use the program solely within the institution, you should choose the network version; if you would like to integrate the resource into post-class or homework activities, you need the online version.
Did you know...
- Clarity provides a range of FREE support materials to help you publicise the programs to students and teachers, and to help familiarise teachers with both content and functionality.
Find out more - Most Clarity programs have both online and network versions.
- If you subscribe to an online program, you will receive monthly usage reports - as well as being able to generate reports on demand.
- Clarity won the English Speaking Union President's Award 2012 with Access UK, jointly developed with the University of York.
Find out more