ESL Website: Learn English Today
#QUESTION 1
The website attempts to teach English for ESL-EFL learners of all proficiency levels independently. It provides learners with English language revision notes and exercises by based on the four skills – reading, listening, writing and speaking as well as on grammatical aspects of English. Learners can access several kinds of grammar and vocabulary exercise such as multiple choice, gap-filling, transformation, error correction and etc. (link: http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/exercise-list.html). The exercises can be done online and offline. Online exercises provide immediate feedbacks directly after learners answer each question included in the exercise. Meanwhile, offline exercises, require learners to print them out and solve the questions provided manually. Although there are no immediate feedbacks for the printable exercises, however, answers are provided for learners to check their learning. Some of the exercises were categorized into different level of difficulty for different proficiency levels. For example, for ‘English Word Games’, the level of difficulty ranges from easy, medium, difficult and challenging (advanced). Nevertheless, most of the exercises provided are depending on the learners’ preference on what they want to learn without any specification of learners’ English proficiency level. The website also includes several fun activities and games in which highlight the different ways of learning English. Learners get to access English learning third-party websites on word games, riddles, funny quotes, humorous stories, tongue-twisters and latest English slangs. (link: http://www.learn-english-today.com/fun/fun_activities.html)
#QUESTION 2
The website focuses more on enhancing learners’ grammar structures and expanding their vocabulary capacity. Learners who wishes to improve on their writing skill should be able to navigate on the sub-topics either from the tabs on left side of website or directly click on the site map tab (link: http://www.learn-english-today.com/site-map.html). The website provides several options for the learners to organize their learning and assessments. Learners will be able to click straight away go to exercises or read the notes provided before attempting to do the exercises. Moreover, learners are not restricted to only one sub-topic at the time by which practicing learners’ freedom to choose what they want to learn. In term of technicality, it is advisable to have for learners to have a stable internet connection to ensure a smooth experience in transitioning between the webpages since some of exercises provide immediate feedbacks for the learners. A slow internet connection might bring utter frustration and disturb the learning motivation. Other than that, it is highly recommended to use an up-to-date internet browser helps to increase learners’ learning experience because most of fun activities and extra learning materials are linked to the third-party websites (link: http://www.learn-english-today.com/resources.html)
#QUESTION 3
Average number of students in Malaysian classrooms are relatively high (more than 35 students), hence influencing teacher-student rations. Therefore, it is difficult for teachers to cater for students with various levels and different needs within the same classroom. In addition with clerical works in schools, teachers cannot pay attention to every single student in a large classroom. Nonetheless, with immediate-feedback features, students can assess their own learning without relying too much on the teacher to explain every single thing, repetitively. More importantly, students have the opportunity to learn depending on pace within a structured domain. Realistically, teachers have the responsibility of to cover up the school syllabus earlier than deadline as they have to prepare students to sit for examinations at the same time. During the process of teaching and learning, no doubt, some of the students will be left behind and teachers tend to pay attention to attentive students only. Hence, teachers should be able to identify students’ weaknesses especially in constructing sentences and direct them to specific grammatical areas that are needed to be worked on. It is suggested for teachers to try ‘flipped classroom’ pedagogical model by using this website. Flip-classroom saves time where students gain their first exposure to the learning material outside the classroom rather than waiting for teachers to assimilate the knowledge in the traditional way of learning. Hence, teachers can engage students an active learning environment which focusing on application of students’ conceptual knowledge instead of recalling factual information.
#QUESTION 4
It is assumed that constructivist learning theory and cognitive learning theory are the underlying concept in facilitating knowledge acquisition. Firstly, constructivist learning theory proposed the notion of engaging students directly in active learning and knowledge exploration. For example, students get construct their own understanding and knowledge of English grammatical aspects based on the notes and exercises provided by the website. Students have the freedom to design their own learning and knowledge through active enquiry of information. Secondly, cognitive learning theory suggested that learning is based on internal and mental processes. In relation to language learning, it is the result from the internal mental activity which constructed by learners in order to develop automatization. Hence, when students gain new information related to their previous knowledge, the existing knowledge is reorganized. For example, when students have the knowledge on ‘verbs’, their knowledge or understanding on that particular item will be reorganized after they start to learn the tenses based on the grammar notes and exercises given by the website. Thus, based on the both theories, students get to reflect and monitor their own learning without relying to their teachers to provide immediate feedbacks within their zone of proximal development.
#QUESTION 5
Language skills made up of reading, writing, listening and speaking while grammar is being integrated into the four skills. For this website, there are possibilities that learners will improve on their writing and reading skills. The notes and exercises provided by the website are compressible and properly organized for ESL learners. In addition, learners will be able to write variety of sentences when they use the targeted grammatical structures as well as expanding vocabulary through the fun activities. Moreover, leaners also will be able to pronounce English words based on the tips given (link: http://www.learn-english-today.com/pronunciation-stress/stress.html). The website provides a page for advanced learners to read digital newspaper and listen to native speakers’ radio channels. (link: http://www.learn-english-today.com/news/news.html). This way, learners get to increase and update their vocabulary as well as developing listening comprehension towards native or advanced English speakers.
#QUESTION 6
I would like to use this this ESL website as my future reference for my lesson planning and teaching resources. The website is relatively easy to use and not complicated at all because it is presented in well-organized manner. Aside from that, regular visits to this website might help me to maintain my level of English proficiency in order to be a successful model for the learners. There is a possibility that I might be working in a school that is poorly maintained or lacked in technological facilities. Hence, I will utilize interesting printable hand-outs in class and by all means, ensuring students engagement throughout the lesson. I might be required to conduct the lesson by using VLE Frog (link: https://frogasia.com/en/1bestarinet) in schools with excellent technological facilities, such as well-maintain computer labs, chrome labs, and technology-enhanced classrooms. In addition, the website has its own Facebook page (link: https://www.facebook.com/learnenglishtodayonline) which is updated daily by linking back to its original website. I find this rather interesting because nowadays, there is a potential for social media to be used as platform in learning and teaching. Regardless, I will incorporate the materials into my future work which are only suitable for Malaysian settings. Some of the examples provided by the website might not be applicable due to the cultural discrepancies. The only weakness I would like to highlight is that, the layout of the website might need some layout modification. I would recommend the website administrator to enhance the features (e.g. pictures and futuristic layout) in order to keep the students interested.
