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E-Bots Phonetics team creates new language by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff 21 | Friday, March 6, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com It was about two-and-a-half hours into a marathon brainstorming session and Stephanie Catricala had heard the discussion range from helping seniors with technology to teaching a second language. She couldn't help but be intrigued when student Andrew Strauss threw out the idea of creating a new language. As she listened, her dad walked by. Pausing to listen to the students, he turned to Catricala and smiled. She let the discussion play out and when the students settled on their topic -- a tool to help people struggling with English learn the language -- their coach was thrilled. It wasn't until the decision was made that Catricala, who has taught at her parents E-Bots shop in Oakville and recently opened her own in Hamilton, let the students know she had a degree in linguistics. "All these years, I've been teaching robots," she said. "So, to have my two worlds collide was pretty special." So, too, is the work the students produced for the project element of their First LEGO League (FLL) competitions. The Oakville-based team, The Phonetics -- Kieran D'Mello, Justin Goping, both Iroquois Ridge students, Liam Maloney (St. Thomas Aquinas), Strauss (Hillfield Strathallan), Normally, kids just want to do the robot. These kids, they eat and sleep this project. It doesn't matter what was thrown at them, they worked on a solution. Stephanie Catricala coach at E-bots The Phonetics team from E-Bots Robotics won the Ontario West regional championships to qualify for the First LEGO League World Championships in St. Louis, Mo., in April. The team includes, pictured, from left: Edward Gao, Justin Goping, Griffin McLean, Kieran d'Mello, and Liam Maloney. Not pictured are team members: Andrew Strauss, Ismaeel Mohammedally and Yasmin Harris. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Edward Gao, Ismaeel Mohammedally and Griffin McLean of Mississauga and Yasmin Harris of Toronto -- recently won the Ontario West regional competition to earn a trip to the FLL World Festival in St. Louis, Mo. Though their project is of special interest to Catricala, she has allowed the students to make their own discoveries. She did provide them with her university textbooks as a starting point to their research. The team of Grades 8-10 students believes it has assembled the building blocks to help people better comprehend the English language. FAFL (Fonetik Alfabet For Learning), simplifies the language by eliminating elements that confuse people who are learning it. "There are so many exceptions in the English language, like I before E," said Griffin McLean. "We created a language where there are no exceptions." The team did not have to look far for inspiration. McLean's sister Lizzie, a Grade 4 student, has a learning disability that makes it difficult for her process elements of the language. see Robot on p.23 Colour + Inspiration = Home 905-257-2061 478 Dundas St. W., Oakville Visit our website www.PaintersPlace.ca for Promotional discounts Let our team inspire you! Andre Terra Terra Painting Services Brad Jensen Jensen Paint and PaPer THE ANSWER FOR TRUE DIVERSIFICATION MAY BE IN YOUR BACKYARD A world-class asset manager--based in Oakville--Acorn invests over $100 million on behalf of institutions and accredited investors seeking true diversification to achieve better portfolio returns and risk reduction. Let Acorn help you diversify your portfolio. Contact us to find out how at acorn.ca or 905-257-0773