Hello
readers.
There are
many ESL Websites on English lessons on the internet. Most of the websites
offer plenty of exercises, grammar lessons and even a discussion forum that
suit the learners from different backgrounds and match with their proficiency level.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, you can get as many lessons
as you want about various rules of English language.
In this
post, I want to evaluate on one particular website that helps me in preparing
myself for practicum. Of course, I do not rely on just one website, usually I
will have so many websites accessed and even go for a blog-walking just to
search for interesting materials for the lessons.
This website
has abundant of lessons on vocabulary, grammar such as verb, tenses, articles
and modals. This website is intended to teach the Basic English lesson that
includes grammar and skills in English language, which are reading, and listening
as the website provides reading room and listening lounge. In the reading room,
there are many reading materials to choose from including newspaper articles,
which is very authentic and current. Various
exercises are included in every lesson so it is easier to check on the
understanding of the topic. The exercises
are range from simple to difficult, according to the tutorials. Viewers can
immediately check the answers and check on the tutorials for further
explanation on the topic. Student forums for discussion is also included in the
website, therefore readers can interact and post questions.
ESL
Students can just simply go to www.englishpage.com and explore all the
contents in the website. All contents and topics are categorized and are put at
the side of the website for easy access and they could just click on the link
to directly start on the topic. The website is not too crowded and clouded with
other things such as unnecessary advertisements or pop-up materials, the layout
and template is rather clean and organized. Not too much color and too much
decoration so it is pleasant to be viewed. The most important thing is it is easy to
be accessed, as it requires no registration or any fees.
Going through
the website reminds me of my practicum phase where I really rely a lot in ESL
websites and blogs for references and for planning the lessons as well as
preparing the materials for my students. Furthermore, I also refer to ESL
websites for self-study. I really depend on other sources to gain my knowledge
on English language therefore I do access various types of websites during my
free time and it is really important that the websites are full of information
and user-friendly.
Besides,
the website offers ESL students with something that cannot be done in a
textbook or workbook. Students can immediately check their answers and visit
the tutorials to enhance their understanding in particular topic. Students are
also equipped with so many exercises and forums to discuss a certain topic they
do not quite clear of. Above all, students can learn by themselves and they do
not need a teacher or a guide just like in the classroom, therefore more time
is spent for self-study. However, the
exercises provided are quite similar to the exercises students can find in
textbooks or workbooks, so it would be interesting actually to at least provide
the students with word games such as word search, or puzzles rather that just
normal boring exercises such as fill in the gap and multiple choice questions.
Browsing through
the websites, it can be concluded that the language teacher applied in the
website is more direct and inductive language teaching, where students are
explained about all the rules and then given exercises to test on their
understanding. The practices are drilling and they are intended to make the
students understand the rules of grammar. It is not communicative language
learning as it focuses more on grammar practices. The lessons also are not really catered to the
different styles and preferences of the students. It is lacking in the visual
and animated kind of learners, as it is more on reading and drilling, therefore
the website would not spark the interest of visual students.
The tasks
and the activities in the website are mostly exercises and drilling, it is
potentially benefits the students in writing with free error, however,
practices as such will not really helpful when it comes to communicative
aspect. The exercises can be done in classroom, no doubt about it but they are simply
meant for grammar lesson. Teachers need
to be creative occasionally and break free from normal chalk and talk,
sometimes bringing in the computers in class would give extra credits to the
teachers. The website offers various grammar explanations and exercise, it is
an important tool for references and teaching, therefore it is very highly
potential in language learning as grammar and structure of sentences are very
important in mastering the language.
Lastly, I would
definitely use the website in the future as it serves as a source of references
and it is easy to access and filled with exercises and practices as well as
reading room with lots of reading materials.
That would be it, for now. See you in the next post.
Have a wonderful weekends everyone !
