salam Dr Izaham. Please have a look at my first draft so that I can make further amendments, ok.
thank u. have a nice day :)
Website:
http://www.rong-chang.commoderator: Ron C. Lee, PhD
Email: leerc8rong-chang.com
1. What does the application attempt to ‘teach’?
The ESL website that is created in the year 1994 is such an informative and educational website which covers listening and speaking skills that includes well known sites and online radio news such as BBC World News, reading skills which comprises of the reading strategies and public domain books to be download and access and writing skills which contain format styles, writing exercises and common mistakes done by ESL writers. Furthermore, it also brings in grammar and vocabulary training to enhance students’ in the language. This site is such an interesting website as it also attracts students to engage in learning English through other sources such as from podcasts, proverbs, idioms, and games. In addition, it also provide opportunities for ESL learners to gain more knowledge by providing lists of bilingual and well known dictionaries, acronym, homonym and thesaurus to be access, information and resources for encyclopedias and ESL magazines that are very educational for the English language learners. The most important point is that this ESL website is regularly updated from time to time to help the learners to be at the forefront and get the best benefit of it.
2. What sorts of things is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?
This website is created to prepare students to be independent learners. It provides ways to learn English not only but accessing the four language skills to be acquire but also to be concerned on other learning sources such as from dictionaries, newspapers, magazines and encyclopedias. Students are given the chance to choose their own way of learning and it suits for all levels either for adults or children. Furthermore, the user are also likely to anticipate the usage of learning English that is not only for educational purposes but also for lifelong learning as it incorporates authentic materials for them. With that, the English language will be regarded as a fun subject to be learned, hopefully.
3. What sorts of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?
The application user is expected to be able to use Internet, mouse and keyboard to access the application provided in the web. The user must also be capable of using speakers to access on BBC World News or Voice America Webcasts which users Special English in listening skills. Moreover, I believe they must also know how to download and attach to linked files. I definitely sure that the exercises and activities are moderate and easy to understand and all users will be able to operate the application in handy.
4. While you are “playing”/”accessing”/”assessing” the application, does it remind you of anything you do in the a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in self study?
During my practicum semester, bringing a dictionary to the English class was a compulsory to the students. It has been a habit and the dictionary must be used during the class hour. I managed to ask the students to use it when they encountered any difficult words, synonyms, acronyms and learn ways to construct correct sentences based on the parts of speech that I have given. It is more or less the same as the online dictionary in the website. Furthermore, when I saw idioms and proverbs published in the website, I remembered one time when I instructed my students to learn idioms’ game just like the Wheel of Fortune. It was fun and they had a great time. My students are excellent students and they managed to guess almost all the idioms that I have prepared and they can ‘read between the lines’. The most essential objective is that they integrate the value of what they have learnt and apply them in daily life. I was surprised when I discovered that they have troubles with grammar though they were quite proficient in speaking. My mentor claimed that it is always the case with good students. Nonetheless, I always remember to bring the real world to the class and make them learn from what they have sensed and experienced. I found it easier to teach grammar and they agreed.
5. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
I think that the website underlie the theory of language learning from Stephen Krashen’s theory of second language learning. The application interprets the meaningful interaction in the targeted language which is natural communication. Learners are introduced with various sources of authentic materials that can be used for second language learning as well as interaction with native speakers to improve speaking and pronunciation skills. The conscious learning of the language such as by grammatical rules and drilling is less concerned as the learners convey the language learning through understanding.
6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website?
I strongly believe that this website has embedded the constructivist theory of learning to the learners. The website engages the users to be active learners by using sensors and to construct meaning from it. It transforms the learners from being passive and acceptance to building a character of being committed and keen towards the subject matter. Furthermore, it also incorporates reflective activity in which hands-on activities and physical actions to be included in learning besides activities which engages the students with mind. In addition, the website also relates the learners with outside world which shows that learning is also a social activity. Learners are given the opportunities to interact with the outside world by slot in authentic materials such as news papers and magazines. On top of that, the learners are being independent and autonomous user where they are the one who constructs the knowledge as they learn. There is no specific area or exact order that they need to adhere in learning English as a second language. I believe that at the end, interest and awareness of the importance of English language will come in handy if freedom of learning is being modeled.
7. In 1980’s and early 1990’s, there was a major debate on whether a computer was a “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?
I believe that in this case there is no such thing as computer being an obedient servant to students. It is more or less a replace for teachers. In this sense, it is actually a positive way to inculcate the value of knowledge not only for future undertakings but also as a lifelong learning. Technology has developing rapidly and there is nothing we can do to pause it. Nevertheless, it has placed significant contributions as a new way of learning. With computer and technology, nothing is impossible. I seemed to comprehend that by using computers, learners are taught to be student-centered prior to the fact that, most teachers incorporate teacher-centered in language teaching. Learners need to do something to gain the knowledge and not to be at ease with spoon feeding. It gives an interesting and diverse way of learning such as games and podcast that enhance the students to be more interactive. The role of teachers as the facilitators must not be forgotten though computers and technology is accessible to the learners. With a thorough guidance by the teachers we can curb negative acts from the students especially in the schools.
8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?
Yes, I will definitely use the application in my future work. Since I want to be a teacher or a lecturer one day, I believe that the use of website in teaching English as a second language to the learners will help me in so many ways. Applications in the website suit all age levels and can be used for all. Besides focusing on English language skills (i.e listening, speaking, reading and writing), I can also inculcate the English language usage in daily life. For example, as we seem to agree on the fact that students are lacking in reading especially in English due to certain problems like difficulties in understanding the meaning, this website might help counter the issue. Since this ESL website have lists of authentic reading materials from newspapers and magazines, I can help the students by browsing the reading materials in the web and search for the meanings at the same time. On top of that, I would not have to print pile of worksheet to the students since they can browsed in the website for more interesting activities and have fun in learning.
9. Suggestions/Recommendations
Sad to say that though the content of the website is beneficial to the learners, nevertheless the web is quite dull and boring. I prefer if the moderator can play with more colors; preferably pastel colors and inserts more pictures and images to make it more appealing and attractive. Perhaps, the moderator can also organize the web by arranging them into levels; beginner, intermediate and advance so that it would be easier for the user in future.
