Friends in London (Friends)

 

Friends (New Friends) was a 4 level course from Pearson Longman ca 2002. 16 units per level. A similar later course was Wider World (2017).

I have to check Friends later. At least New Friends also has CD-ROMs. One supplement for the first 2 levels (Starter and 1 or 1 and 2) was a VHS video Friends in London - Video. Plot: 2 friends tell each other about all the fun they have. (Can't say if boys or girls). There was a booklet (Video activity book) for the VHS, separate and as a pack with the VHS. Tests, projects, games, songs etc.

I haven't found details, length of the VHS nor screenshots or clip. I have to check the books, I only found book 3.

Pic above from the book, level 3, girls are Vicki and Kim. Maybe these are the 2 friends as there are also pics of them at Leeds Castle and at the airport.  

 

The Wonderkids

 

Year published/aired: 2007 

Year produced/filmed:

# of episodes: ~36 units per level

Grade: 7 ??

Genres: Everyday's situations ?

Sub-subject:

Broadcaster: -

Production company: 

Production country:

Producer of videos:

Story: Brian Abbs and Ingrid Freebairn

Editor:

Director:

Media: DVD

Media distribution: Longman

Additional media: books, CD-ROM,

Working material: Zozetta Androulaki

Material publisher: Pearson Longman

Novel available:

Other literature: 

Plot (short): I found another 3 level Pearson Longman course by Brian Abbs and Ingrid Freebairn. There are confirmed Class DVDs (usually DVD-ROMs) and CD-ROMs. I think it's used with/part of the book series Sky. (I have 2 other DVDs for that (Life in Britain, Kirsty's Secret). There was also a course called Wonderland.

I haven't found any pics, PDFs or more details. I also tried archive.org and worldcat. So, I can't say if these are live-action or animated scenes. I think a secondary course for teens. Level 3 is for Senior C level students. In level 1 real kids should turn into cartoons.

The Wonderkids are Ollie and her friends Jess, Leo and Niki. They have special powers, help others and solve mysteries (at least in level 3).  

(Also or mainly) used in Greece. 

 

Episodes: unknown length

... 

Level 3

1. Making Friends

2. A busy time ahead

3. How did it happen?

4. My kind of music

5. I've just been for a swim

6. I've been downhill racing

7. Have you ever eaten squid?

8. The Wonderkids in ... The robbery

9. You musn't move it 

10. Where are you most ticklish?

11. The robot that won

12. The Paralympians 

13. I'm not used to this

14. He had dropped it in the sea

15. It's such an old house that ...

16. The Wonderkids in ... The gold ring 

...

36. Legal ages 

Living Abroad

 

Year published/aired: 1984 

Year produced/filmed:

# of episodes:  12 units, 60 clips total 

Grade: Business English ?

Genres: Business English ?

Sub-subject: Everyday's situations

Broadcaster: -

Production company: Berlitz & C.Itoh

Production country: Japan

Producer of videos:

Story:  

Editor:

Director:

Media: VHSx6

Media distribution: B&CI Inc.

Additional media: 3 books, audio cassettes

Working material:

Material publisher: Itoh, Berlitz

Novel available:

Other literature: 

Plot (short): A course for Business English. Subtitle: A Practical Orientation for the Japanese Businessman and his Wife. On 6 VHS. I haven't found much info.  And haven't found it on worldcat. Produced in Japan. Pic also showing the B&CI logo. (There's a thin AND below the B.) Family and also kids shown but probably few or very few scenes.

Berlitz & C.Itoh (Berlitz & C. Itoh) also published "On Business Abroad" (1983/1984), "Enjoy English" 1986 (3 VHS) and "First Step Abroad". C. Itoh (founded by Chubei Itoh) was renamed in 1992 again in Itochu (伊藤忠商事株式会社). There is also C.Itoh & Company (America) but this was produced in Japan. Berlitz also has many publishing names like Berlitz School of Languages (Japan). Some similar VHS were released by "NCS Video" and Shin Nihon.

The learning material has 4 parts, Story Presantation, The Key Points, Useful Expressions, Situational Role play.

Episodes: unknown length, 6 VHS, 2 units per VHS. 60 episodes. I only found these on a photo of the back of VHS 6.

... 

Unit 11 (VHS 6)

51 Getting a letter from the States

52 Greeting visitors at the airport

53 Having dinner at a Japanese Home 

54 Taking the subway to Akiharaba

55 Bargaining in Akihabara 

Unit 12 (VHS 6)

56 Shopping

57 In Asakusa   

58  At Kabuki

59 At the Palace

60 Having Drinks 

Update: Got it!

 

Sorry, I saw too late, that I already had this. New pic from level 1. (Student's books, probably cap from a clip). Boy Sam also wore grey cargo pants and light green shirt in unit 4. Plot here is about playing Basketball inside, maybe at school. Girl is called Zoe.

2010 course by Oxford University. 

Main post with 2 other pics including another boy

https://schulfernsehenenglischhistory.blogspot.com/2023/07/got-it.html

Update: People You Meet

I found this book cover of People You Meet (I think first aired 1973, book edition 1975). It shows 3 screenshots in color. Previously I only had a b&w pic. BBC. Series: English by Radio and Television.

Main post

https://schulfernsehenenglischhistory.blogspot.com/2021/07/people-you-meet.html

I also uploaded some early and late 80s logos of Nelson/Filmscan

https://schulfernsehenenglischhistory.blogspot.com/2025/10/update-lets-watch-nelson-filmscan.html

Enjoy English (1986)

 

Enjoy English : a step-by-step video learning system

Year published/aired: 1986 

Year produced/filmed:

# of episodes:  40 scenes 

Grade: 7 ??

Genres: Everyday's situations ?

Sub-subject:

Broadcaster: -

Production company: International Spontaneous Language Institute

Production country: USA

Producer of videos:

Story:  

Editor:

Director:

Media: VHSx3

Media distribution: B&CI Inc.

Additional media: books, 4 audio cassettes

Working material:

Material publisher: Itoh, Berlitz

Novel available:

Other literature: 

Plot (short): A course for at least Japanese Junior High schools. Filmed in the USA. Used at least in 760 schools in Japan. I found this including pic in a Nov 1989 issue of JALT.

Again, worldcat was very helpful. Publisher Itoh and the Berlitz School of Language (Japan) B&CI. Itoh is aka C. Itoh and Co Inc. Not much more can be found (maybe in Japanese). Berlitz also published Summer in Seattle (1990). Berlitz School of Language (America) published some more later. I haven't found anything about the producer.

Berlitz & C.Itoh (Berlitz & C. Itoh) also published "On Business Abroad", "Living Abroad" (6 VHS) and "First Step Abroad". C. Itoh (founded by Chubei Itoh) was renamed in 1992 again in Itochu (伊藤忠商事株式会社).

Not to be confused with Enjoy English (2006) or Let's Enjoy English. 

Episodes: unknown length

Speak Now

 

Year published/aired: 2012 

Year produced/filmed:

# of episodes:  32 units (each) 

Grade: 13 ? (A1-B2)

Genres: Everyday's situations

Sub-subject:

Broadcaster: -

Production company: People's Television Inc.

Production country:

Producer of videos:

Story: Jack C. Richards, David Bohlke 

Editor:

Director:

Media: DVD-ROM/online

Media distribution: Oxford University

Additional media: books, CD-ROM, CDs, ebook, CDs, ...

Working material:

Material publisher: Oxford University

Novel available:

Other literature: 

Plot (short): A 4-level course from Oxford University for adults/young adults.

Pic from level 4 unit 7 (clip 3'22). 

In level 1 the son is called Eric and has shorter dark curly hair. Around 18-20 yo. He has a sister and/or neighbor Jill about his age. Tom and Maria might be the parents. Many screenshots in the student's book.

As usual DVDs are probably DVD-ROMs. The iTools Classroom Software has video and PowerPoint presentations (whiteboard ?). 

Episodes: unknown length, clips are very short ~2-4 minutes (as usual), at least ~21-29 minutes video per level. 

Level 1, clips (probably there are more), these are the main ones

1. New Neighbors

2. A Birthday Present 

3. Jill's Saturday

4. Maria Goes Shopping

5. Eric's Lucky Chair

6. Tom Cooks Dinner 

7. Jill's Trip (lessons 29-32)