Chicago Language Systems

Chicago Language SystemsTitle Meeting

September 26, 2000Andrew Conference Center

Morning Session

8:30 am – Coffee 9:00 am – Introduction 9:30 am – 1999 Overview

Revenue and profits Best sellers Solid backlist titles

10:00 am – Revisions 12:00 pm – Lunch

Afternoon Session

1:00 pm – New Titles Competitive Analysis

• French, Spanish, Japanese core products• New electronic ancillaries

Acquisition candidates• Unsolicited submissions from professors• New titles now under contract• Rounding out the list

Conclusion

1999 Overview

Revenue and Profits Revenues up 17% Profits up 15%

Best Sellers Real-World French Interactive CD-ROM French for Scientists Book & Cassette Japanese for Business Interactive CD-

ROM

1999 Overview

Solid backlist titles Spanish for Travelers (book only) English in Your Life (book and cassette) English Situations (Interactive CD-ROM)

Revisions

English in Your Life Convert cassette to CD-ROM? Expand exercises? More opportunities for free practice

with native speakers? Spanish for Travelers

Add cassette? Add appendix on regional differences?

Possible Revisions: French

The Road to French Update essays with current content Revise review questions Update grammar sections for contemporary

usage French Conversation Practice

Review idioms for contemporary usage Characters should reflect ethnic diversity Tape should use balance of male/female

speakers

Possible Revisions: Russian

Russian for Today Examine for outdated political

references Check regional coverage Update with current vocabulary

Possible Revisions: Japanese

Japanese Conversation Practice Add dialogs Review phonetic transcriptions Add notes on body language

New Titles

Competitive analysis - core products French Spanish Japanese

New Titles

Competitive Analysis New electronic ancillaries Richer audio tracks Improved video displays More interactivity options Traditional book publishers’ initiatives

New Titles

Acquisition candidates Unsolicited submissions from professors

• Community college professors• 4-year angle• Professors Benjamin & Lynn• Professor Rollo• UCSD new techniques

New language teaching methodologies

New Titles

New CD-ROM titles now under contract French for Travelers Vietnamese for Travelers Doing Business in Vietnamese: Level 2

Conclusion