ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION

Website: EnglishClub.com
URL : http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english.htm


1.What does the application attempt to “teach”?

The website, EnglishClub.com is an ESL learning centre that is designed for both teachers and students. The website is very beneficial in a way that it provides and covers all aspects of English skills in order for the teachers and the students to revise their knowledge as well as to learn English in the comfort of their home and also for the learners to be able to check their understanding of what they had learnt in the classroom.

The website includes all aspects of English basic skills; reading, writing, listening and speaking thus making it a very useful ESL online website to help improve the learners proficiency in English language. The website also "teaches" other aspects of English mainly grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary.

In the grammar site, notes and quizzes of are provided for references as well to check the learners understanding. There is also ‘Grammar Help Desk’ that allow the learners to ask questions if they still do not understand something after reading the notes and completing the quizzes. In the pronunciation site, the learners are provided with word stress in English, sentence stress in English, linking in English, as well as English tongue twister for the learners to try. In the speaking site, some examples of everyday life conversation are provided to help the learners to be able to practice the language and also to make use of it to converse in their daily life. For the reading site, it is divided to three categories; elementary, intermediate and advanced. Some of the texts provided have word definitions and explanations to help the learners understand the text better. There are also plenty of various English listening sources such as Al Jazeera English, BBC English, Russia Today, VOA English Special in the listening site that are perfect for listening practice.

Each of the activity is sequenced according to various types of levels thus making it easier for the users to choose their level and answer it according to their own proficiency. There is also another exciting aspect that I noticed with this website the fact that it has interactive pages like ESL Forums or ESL Games for the users to have fun and learn English at the same time. There is also Help Desk available for the users to ask questions about English grammar. Another resource is also available for the users to expand their knowledge at special interest pages where they will find resources for Business English, Young Learners and other areas of English.



2. What sorts of things is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?

The first thing that I noticed about this website is it is free as it does not require the users to purchase it before having the chance to make full use of the website. The website is also easily accessible to everyone on the net as no log in account is required. I must say that the website is very user-friendly as all the users need to do is, they have to choose on the aspects that they wanted to learn and make a simple click on it, and everything is ready in front of their eyes.

The best thing that I like about this website is that it provides notes, exercises, and quizzes to guide the learners on every aspect. There is also language proficiency level for the students to choose before they decided to do each activity to ensure everyone with different level of proficiency will have the same chance in the website.

There is no need to be very proficient in computer skills as all that the learners need to do to be able to answer each exercise on the website is just a simple click on the preferred area of answers. The correct answers for each exercise are provided so that the students can check their answers each time they had completed them. There is also reset button at the end of each quiz so that the learners can answer it again if they do not satisfy with their performance.


3.What sorts of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?

I personally think that the website is very easy to use and everyone that is familiar with the computer can use it with no trouble at all. There is no specific skills required, just some basic computer skills such as browsing, downloading, typing and also clicking the required links on the web. I strongly think that any regular internet users should not have any difficulties in accessing this web and will find the website is very user friendly.

For those who are new to the computers and the websites, they just need a little help on the downloading and the installing skills as they need to download Flash Player in order for them to access flash activities. Fret not as they will find it as easy as ABC as the installation steps is provided.

And also, if the user’s computer does not have built-in speakers, they need to install it as they will use it for the listening and speaking activities. All in all, the website is easily accessible to everyone as it requires only basic acquaintance of computer skills.


4. While you are “playing”/”accessing”/”assessing” the application, does it remind you of anything you do in a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in self-study?

I must admit that while accessing this application, it does remind me the memory that I had back in my secondary school years where my English teacher will bring the students to the computer lab for the first period of class in the week just for us to try English activities using the computer. But of course during that time, the activities are not from the online website, just the normal CD-ROM but I recalled having a great time with my friends trying to solve the activities. Learning English was so much fun whenever we are in the lab compared to the activities that we had in normal classroom where we got to type or click on the the answer instead of writing it down.

Accessing this application also reminds me of my own study style. I am too lazy to join other students to study and find information on certain subjects in the library, so I opt for another option which is browsing through the net. I remembered I used to spend half of my day browsing through the net to find articles for my article reviews and also some activities for my micro-teaching for the past semesters and yes, the website that I am now evaluating is also from the net. Instead of evaluating the courseware, I choose to evaluate the ESL website just because I am more familiar with the website and not even once in my life had spent doing the activities of any courseware. Website activities had been a major part of my self-study because I always find it convenient to study at my own pace and space since I am always having some hard time to fully concentrate during the lecture hours.



5. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?

When I came to think of some possible theories of this application, I could not help to associate the Silent Way Theory with this application. I remembered clearly the presentation done by my fellow classmate about this theory during my pre-degree time. The theory is about the teacher remains mainly silent; to give space to students the space they need to learn to talk. The theory also enables students to become independent, autonomous and responsible learners. I always link this theory to reflect my study style since then as I prefer to learn and discover by myself through my own reading and activities done on the web. By taking the quizzes in this website, the users are doing it on their own, with no teacher on their side thus forcing them to work independently and be responsible of their own learning. And because of that, I strongly believe that the Silent Way is the best theory underlying this application.

Another important theory that is related with this application is the Cognitive Theory. According to this theory, the memory system is an active organized processor of information and prior knowledge plays an important role in learning. Well, while accessing this application, the users need to integrate his prior knowledge of what he had learnt in the classroom and also make the full use of the notes given on the website for the user to be able to answer each question correctly.

Social Constructivist Theory is also true to this language learning activities as the theory ‘learning involves constructing one's own knowledge from one's own experiences’. This application requires users to engage in problem solving situations where the users draw on his experience and prior knowledge to solve the quizzes in the application. In short, the users will learn better when they have the chance to apply their knowledge in their real life activities.


6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website(s)?

From my own understanding about this theory, it suggests that humans generate knowledge and meaning from their experiences. Formalization of the theory of constructivism is generally attributed to Jean Piaget, who articulated mechanisms by which knowledge is internalized by learners. He suggested that through processes of accommodation and assimilation, individuals construct new knowledge from their experiences. This means that experiences of the learners play a major role in the process of gaining new knowledge. And if the mistakes occur, the learners will note it and will try to find a way to correct it. With relation on this website, the users of the application are on their own to learn and to improve themselves. The users can choose to answer the quizzes without any prior knowledge but eventually they wont feel satisfy with the wrong answer thus they have to learn it first to gain some knowledge and get back to the quizzes.

The theory is also related to Vygotsky’s ZPD where in order for the students to learn effectively, the teacher needs to produce opportunities for the students to interact and help each other during the learning process. There is a space provided for the users of this application to interact with one another and thus asking questions of what they do not understand while answering the quizzes. I believe that the space will help the students to help them improve themselves and also giving them chances to help their friends.


7. In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major debate on ‘whether the computer was “master” of or “slave” to the learning process (Higgins and Johns, 1984). In relation to your evaluation - was the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?

From my personal perspective, computer had played a major role in my daily life as it had helped me a lot with my studies and also personal matters. Admit it or not, all of us especially students and teachers are relying so much on the computers to help us making our everyday life easier and also as a tool to entertain ourselves with the daily dose of social networking websites and to download movies and songs. There is of course a lot to mention here of what computers can do in order to help us to improve our knowledge as well as to explore new academic purposes.

If you were to asked me whether the computer can be a replacement for teachers, the answer is NO. After all the benefits that the computer can give us, the special bond that we shared with the teachers whom had taught us will never be replaced. Take me for example, I still remember certain things that my teacher used to say to me, those encouraging words that I am sure the computer cannot do as good as that. And I still remember clearly some of the lessons I had during my schools years that I don’t think the computer can give me even though it is equipped with the latest technology on earth.

Computer is also not a slave for the students, just a helping partner in order to make the students life a lot easier and to guide the students to learn better in their studies. They can make a full use of it by making their school work faster and tidier with the help of the computer. They computer also can be a library in their home with the help of the internet. Thus, if the users’ use the computer wisely, is can be a great study partner, but it will never replace the teachers’ role in anytime to come.


8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?
Yes? Give reasons:
No? Give reasons:

I will definitely use this application in my future work if I had the chance to teach after I graduated from this course. I absolutely in love with this application due to many factors mainly because it is free and easily accessible. The application also provides many instructions and notes that I am sure my future students can make a good use of it. As I do not encounter any problems while accessing this application, I hope it will do the same thing to my future students. I also love the fact that the students can interact with each other during the accessing session as this will encourage them to help each other and I strongly agree that good things are meant to be shared with one another. And the truth that the traditional chalk and board will bored the students in the classroom, this application will serves as a refreshing activities for them to pay more attention on the English learning. It is also more like killing two birds with one stone where the students can improve their English and also their computer skills.



Suggestion and Recommendation :

The website is interesting enough for me to keep using it and promote it to my other course mates, but still there is room for improvement. I will like it better if there are more colors added instead of boring white layouts. I believe more interesting and eye-catching colors will do wonders to the website since I am sure it will attract students’ attention. They should also add some more games and activities since all of us knew that students love games so much. Another thing that I noticed about this application is that, it is lack of illustration to explain each example given. Some students may find it hard to understand each explanation, especially those with very limited English vocabulary thus a lot of illustration is needed to ensure everyone is benefited from the website. I also could not resist wishing for more animations and sounds added to the website to make it more exciting. Overall, this website is interesting compared to other websites as the content it well organized and it covers all aspects of English skills that I can think of.