Website Evaluation

1. What does the website attempt to “teach”? Are exercises included in the website? What are the types of exercise included? Are there immediate feedback? Are there different levels of difficulty for different proficiency levels? 

This website is being divided into two categories; teachers and students. For teachers, it focuses on teaching grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary, speaking and listening. It also includes materials such as videos and films that can be used by the teachers to teach. For students, this website focuses on grammar, vocabulary, slang, expressions, phrasal verbs and reading. Apart from that, exercises are included for both categories where the users will be tested in two different ways which are games and quizzes. One of the best features that has been provided in this website is immediate feedback is provided for all the games and quizzes. It will be very helpful especially for the students since they do not have to refer or check the answers with their teachers since the answers are provided. They can immediately know their mistakes and learn from them. Moreover, all the games and quizzes are divided into three different level which are easy, medium and difficult. Thus, the students can attempt to various level according to their own level of proficiency. 

For teachers

For students

Immediate feedback

2. What are the learners/visitors required to do with regards to learning the content of the website? 

Before attempting certain exercises, the learners will have to go through prompts that will assist them in answering the questions. For instance, there are exercises that are related to songs where the students need to go through the lyrics before answering the related questions. Some of the questions might require them to give the meaning of the songs or identify the slang that is used in the songs. Apart from that, there are also exercises which require the students to always refer to the videos of films before attempting the questions. Basically, the exercises are closely related to the support materials that have been provided for the students. 

3. While you are going through the website, does it remind you of anything you do in a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in self-study?

The contents of this website are mostly different from what I have encountered in the classroom, with teacher, classmates or even in self-study. The activities, for instance, are way more interactive compared to ones I have done. The topics chosen in teaching are also different from the usual topics that are being used in schools. Some of the topics that are available in this website are dating and relationships, food, internet and travel. Instead of learning on the common topics like environment, people or even lifestyle, the learners are being exposed to the reality through the chosen topics which are closely related to them. Apart from that, the learners' proficiency is being tested through various interesting ways which involve games, songs and videos. The common multiple-choice questions are also available especially for the learners who are less proficient in using English. Although this type of exercises are quite common among the students, it is necessary since it will be very useful for the students who are less proficient in using the language in attempting the exercises provided in the websites.   

Topics

4. Does the website present learners with something that cannot be done in a textbook/workbook? If yes, how so.

Apart from the usage of songs and videos, this website also provides additional references for both learners and teachers which include articles or other websites' links for future studies which can rarely be found in any textbooks or workbooks. Although the exercises that have been provided in this website complement all categories; beginners, intermediate and advance, it provides various suggestions on the websites that should be visited for more information. It will be very helpful since the users do not have to search for more information on their own. Besides that, the availability of moving objects somehow can attract the students' attention to learn compared to reading texts and static objects on the textbook or workbooks. It is undoubtedly true that the students especially the young ones will find it exhausting if they were to do all the exercises on the black and white workbooks. By having moving graphics on the website, it will indirectly help the learners to stay motivated in doing the exercises. 

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

Since this website is divided into two categories; teachers and students, the teachers' section apply the concept of Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) by a psychologist named Lev Vygotsky that focuses on scaffolding or in other words giving examples that can be followed by fellow teachers. There are many lessons that can be replicated into the classroom. Based on this website, the teachers are being thought on how to teach grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary, speaking and listening through various mediums or teaching aids. The teachers just have to modify the lessons suggested according to the proficiency of their students in order for the lessons to be effective. 

In the students' section, it can clearly be seen that this website follows Hierarchy of difficulties by Clifford Prator who has compartmentalised  the difficulties in several different levels. It has been applied in this website by differentiating the exercises provided to the students according to their specific level of proficiency; beginner, intermediate and advance. 

6. An important criterion for evaluating a CALL program, task or activity is the potential for language learning. Does the website fulfill this criterion? If yes, how so? 

This website proves that it provides an adequate potential for language learning through the variety of exercises that have been provided. The exercises are varied according to the learners' level of proficiency which is divided into three categories; easy, medium, difficult. Though compartmentalizing the exercises into three different levels, the learners can easily distinguish their own level of proficiency. Once they have achieved certain improvement, they can continue with the next level, which is the harder one. Apart from that, something that is quite interesting about this website is it provides some ideas for the classroom discussion for every topic chosen. 

Example: MOVIE

Who's your favourite actor?

Do you like action movies? Why or why not?

How often do you go to the movies?

By providing the questions for discussions, the extra time can be wisely used for the students to voice out their answers instead of being used by the students to brainstorm the ideas. It will give them more time to learn together with their classmates. As for the teachers' section, it has variety of lessons that can be implemented in the classroom which encompasses many interesting topics that will somehow attract the learns' attention. From this website, the teachers can also learn on how to make use of the technology in teaching. For instance, the teachers are thought to use internet, videos and songs as a medium in teaching apart from using the textbooks or workbooks in delivering the lessons. Hence, this website provides the opportunity to learn for both teachers and students. 

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

I personally think that I will make use of this website in the future because I find it very helpful and interesting. It provides us with various types of ideas in teaching. For instance, it gives an example of how to teach the students using songs, films and videos. Besides that, this website will help as guidance especially when I run out ideas to teach since there are several of exercises that are available on the website. On top of that, it will be very useful when it comes to giving my students extra exercises so that they can continuously improve their proficiency of using the language. Most importantly, the main reason why I would like to make use of this website is entirely because of the topics chosen which are up-to-date and closely related to the teenagers nowadays. Some of the topics are travel, food dating and relationships which I find interesting and can be used in the classroom discussions. 

WEBSITE:

https://www.eslpartyland.com/ 

Well hello! 

I'm Nur Izzati binti Abd Rahman and you can call me Zati. 

A Kedahan.

How would you rate yourself in terms of your computer skills and why?

In terms of computer skills, I would prefer to place myself among the novices since my knowledge regarding on computer is rather limited. There are lots of other things that I do not know and still need to learn.

What computer software and hardware knowledge do you have?

Some of the software that I commonly use are Microsoft, Padlet and Prezi which are very helpful when it comes to presentation. I also have been exposed to Adobe Photoshop which can be used in photo-editing. For hardware, I have knowledge in using all the basic hardware such as CPU and so on. 

Have you experienced learning via the computer ?

I have experienced learning using the computer. During my foundation year, I have been exposed to a course which is Computer Literacy. Besides, throughout my degree years, there are several courses that require the students to make use of the computer. For example, in PELT, I have been introduced to blended learning and in Basic Data Analysis, I have been introduced to SPSS.

What is your opinion on the use of computer/technology in language teaching?

Since we are living in an era where almost everything involves computer or technology, it would be great for the students if the teaching process is being conducted using the technology that we have nowadays. Apart from teaching them the language itself, we can help the students to be more capable in using the technology since they are young. 

What are your expectations from this course?

Hopefully I will gain more knowledge regarding on how to make use of the computer and technology in teaching language so that the knowledge gained will be useful especially when I go to school to teach later on. Besides, teaching through technology will be more exciting compared to the normal way of teaching which is lecture. 

What is the topic chosen for your Academic Exercise? Why have you chosen the topic? Who is your supervisor?How do you plan to complete your AE so that it follows the designated processes (chapter by chapter) and can be submitted on time?  

The topic that I have chosen entitled "A Study on Factors That Lead to Second Language Anxiety in Impromptu Speaking Among Form 4 Students at A Selected School in Shah Alam, Selangor."

I have chosen this topic because I am curious to know what are the main causes that contribute to the students' passiveness in the classroom. By knowing the major reasons of that issue, I might be able to come out with several solutions so that the students can learn better in a less threatening environment.

In order to submit the Academic Exercise on time, I should start doing it now so that during the final semester, I just need to focus on collecting data since I will be busy with my practicum although I have not been assigned to any supervisor at the time being.