ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION

The website chosen :
Learn English Online Network (LEO Network)
http://www.learnenglish.de/

1. What does the application attempt to teach?

LEO Network, the website that I chose, attempts to teach the users or visitors the basic skills of English Language. The website focuses primarily on Grammar, listening, speaking and reading for English learners in general. It provides tutorials, along with pictures, images and pronunciation lessons to reinforce understanding, as well as interactive games and exercises that allows the users to assess themselves. LEO Network also offers English chat room and forum, that are regularly moderated, for visitors to practice using English apart from authentic reading materials such as articles on British culture to strengthen reading skill. It also provides lesson plans and teaching aids for English teachers and additional tutorial on Business English for those interested.

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

In learning the content, more specifically English Language, the users are expected to read and comprehend the tutorials, mainly on Grammar, that are provided. Learners can choose any Grammar rules or items according to their own need as the tutorials are presented in particular subtopics. Users can, at the same time, listen to the audio provided in order to learn English pronunciation. They are also expected to assess their understanding by answering the tests and exercises. As mentioned above, there are also English chat room and forum provided for visitors to practice using English with other English learners, along with materials such as articles, riddles, poems, jokes and comic strips to be read. The website, at the same time, provides English games that enable the users to learn by playing. Visitors can also find other helpful websites and materials that can be used in learning English through LEO Network.

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

In order to use the application, minimal computer skills are required, which I believe is highly compatible for young or novice learners. The application requires basic computer skills such as the ability to operate the mouse, keyboard, speaker as well as to access and navigate the Net. Once the users have entered the website, they are capable of exploring the site autonomously and independently.

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?

While I am exploring the website, I am reminded of my school years where I was taught English purely through the explanation of Grammar rules followed by drilling exercises only. At times, the routine became very boring and tiring. However, the website, or any other beneficial websites in fact, offer a lot more as the tutorials are often accompanied with graphic pictures and images while the practices and exercises are presented through interesting authentic materials that are far more exciting and meaningful. Even though the learning methods are somewhat similar to a certain degree, but learning with the assistance of computer does offer more advantage.

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

LEO Network seems to be applying a certain degree of Behaviourism as the website provides drilling practices that are repeated whenever the learners answer incorrectly. As the users keep trying find the correct answers in order to continue to the next questions, they can learn from their mistakes and eventually succeed in producing the correct answers. The website also applies Constructivist theory as it encourages the users or visitors to explore the website and learn on their own.

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

LEO Network highly promotes constuctivist theory of learning as the website not only allows the users or learners to operate and explore the site independently, but also provides explicit tutorials along with examples, pictures as well as exercises to be read and done. As everything is provided in the website, the learners are permitted and encouraged to learn on their own, thus promoting active learning or learning by doing as oppossed by constuctivist theory of learning.

7. In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a majir 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?

In my opinion, the computer is very helpful in the teaching and learning process. With its infinite resources and interactive uses, it is indeed a powerful and useful tool. Nevertheless, I also believe that a teachers' guidance and support are always needed in any kind of learning environment. One cannot deny the significance of the teachers in the process, for instance, in further explaining indistinct information, providing guidance in learning, or monitoring the students progress. From my evaluation of the website alone, I realise that for learners to acquire and learn English, or anything else even, solely through computer is definitely not enough. With that said, I emphasize again that a computer is and should only be a tool, a servant or a slave to both teachers and students in the teaching and learning process.

8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?

From the evaluation that I had done, I would say that I would, no doubt, use the application or the website and this I say for a number of reasons:
(a) The websites provides useful tutorials that are easy to be understood and suitable for novice learners along with helpful exercises.
(b) It is a vast resource of authentic reading materials that are useful in English teaching and learning as well as helpful in gaining new general knowledge.
(c) The website also offers a "Teachers' Zone" for teachers to seek for ideas to teach and teaching aids.
I would use LEO Network not only for my professional use alone, but also for the development of my own personal knowledge.

Suggestions and recommendations.

~I do have a few suggestions and recommendations for the moderator of the website. In my opinion, the website is lacking in terms of appearance. The all-white background and simple design might not appeal to young learners or perhaps learners in general in the long run. More colours and graphic images should be integrated and applied. Besides that, there should be more exercises provided as learners might need plenty of practices to comprehend the rules.