#4: Task 1 (10%) - ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION

Website: Fun Easy English

URL: http://funeasyenglish.com

I have chosen to evaluate FunEasyEnglish website (http://funeasyenglish.com). It is a free ESL website for teaching and learning. This website is one of the projects developed by Howie Hayman. He is also the developer of Howie Hayman – Evolution of the Man, the Myth, the Legend.

1. What does the application attempt to “teach”?

The website aims to teach English by integrating all language skills (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). This site covers all aspects of learning English from Grammar, Idioms, Pronunciation, Vocabulary extension and even the study of slangs.

Basically, this site offers a wide range of teaching and learning materials for both teachers and students.

There are ample activities which can be found from this site. There are games, crosswords, daily puzzles, video lessons, online classroom activities, facts of the day, English TV, English radio, problem solving activity and many interactive activities to enhance learning. It also offers tests with standardized grading scheme. There are various types of tests and quizzes which focus on language based enrichment. It also includes other areas of knowledge namely; general knowledge, social studies, science, environment and geography. Thus, it teaches the language via authentic learning and experience. Overall, this site really promotes autonomous learning for students. It encourages students to learn English in many good ways.

The topics for learning are sorted by themes and sets. The themes are varied according to days. This can be accessed through “Daily Classroom” portal. The topics are also updated regularly. If a learner misses any days of learning, he/she can always access the lesson by clicking at the days (dates) the have missed. Apart from that, they can always choose to do drills and practice on their favourite skills separately.

In a way, this application also “teaches” learners to make full use of their computing skills. As it promotes self-discovery learning, the site is very useful to produce skilled learners in terms of Internet and computer.

Other than that, this site ‘teaches’ students to connect with other users to learn. In a way, it implies the practice of Vygotskyan’s Socio-cultural learning theories. Learners are encouraged to join the forum and link with one another.

For teachers, there are loads of worksheets which can be downloaded for teaching in classroom. This site also teaches the teacher on how to use the website in class. There is a tutorial part where teachers can utilize the site to the maximum extent. It also links to other ESL websites which reviewed to be good for ESL teaching and learning.

Most importantly, this site attempts to teach language learners to be self-directed and promote autonomous language learning. This is the best tool to prepare students for the next level of education (Primary & Secondary, University). In my opinion, the best thing about this site is when it offers casual and relaxing way of learning. At the end of every activity, learners can go at the “Relaxation” part and do fun activities. Therefore, the learning process is endless. Brilliant!

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

This website offers a series of tutorial sessions for learners. Therefore, the user is expected to go through the sessions based on their preference. After they finish with the tutorial, they can proceed to the activity set. The set is pre-determined on top of the tutorial videos. Thus, learner will be aware of what language emphasis is being taught.

Learner may also skip the tutorial and choose to do the activity. There are various activities pertaining the topics (again, learner may choose their preference). They are expected to comprehend the command and do the activity.

This site promotes self-discovery learning and expects learners to casually learn the language. If they are not able to finish the task, they can always quit and try new things suit with their level. At the end, they can also play games to enrich their knowledge.

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

As the name of this website suggest, users are expected to have basic computer skills to access the application. The application is very user friendly; even the very beginners can access the website.

They need to have Internet connection, speakers, keyboard, and mouse. It enhances the technology use with responsive mouse and keyboard. Most importantly, learners need to know how to browse through one application to another. Students just need to explore to master the application.

It is pretty easy as they just have to point and click at what they want to do. Keyboard and mouse are used to fill in the answers (by typing or clicking). They need to have speakers for tutorial and also listening & speaking activities. That’s pretty much of the skills and hardware they need to operate the application. Overall, this application requires only basic computer skills to access with.

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?

Yes, as I went through the games section, I played the “Hangman”. During my practicum days, I often did this game with my students. Back then, I just used whiteboard and marker pen. Yes, it is way left behind compared to what this site offers. Somehow, it motivated students to quickly answer the question based on the clues given. It really stimulates their motivation and at the same time, improves their vocabulary. Therefore, this is a useful site for sure.

For the tutorial session, I remembered my school days where we used to have “Tutor-Tutee” program. It is almost the same when I accessed the application except it is not bidirectional learning. The point of teaching took place as it simplifies the command to meet with beginners. Nevertheless, it does affect my knowledge.

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

I have tried to explore if there’s any practical use on whole language theory for this site. Unfortunately, it does not put the theory in practice. For the tutorial part, the theory which is being applied is the Direct Method. According to Brown (2001), the Direct Method is taught through demonstrations, objects and pictures, and the association of ideas. There will be one teacher (Hayman) teaching for all tutorial videos. The method is simply taught with the presumable essence that students may easily comprehend the ideas.

An apparent theory being implied by the application (Vocabulary) is the Krashen’s Second Language Hypothesis. I will be focussing on Krashen’s Input Hypothesis whereby he suggested that new, unfamiliar vocabulary is acquired when its significance is made clear to the learner. Meaning is conveyed by providing extralinguistic support (illustrations, pictures, graphics, actions and photos).

For the writing and grammar practices, the application utilize The Silent Way method where students to work on their own. They are expected to respond to questions given with the help of provided cues, graphics and commands without being modelled by the teacher/instructor.

As mentioned before, this site promotes self-directed learning to the maximum extent. Thus, it practices the ALL (Autonomous Language Learning) theory. However, teachers need to guide students to become autonomous learners at the early stage.

For listening activity, the theory in use is the Working Memory. According to this theory, two largely independent sub-components can work in parallel (one visual and one verbal/acoustic) (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974). Therefore, it allows students to simultaneously process information coming from their eyes and ears.

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

Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is being practiced for this website. This site is actually providing sufficient scaffolding for students to learn English. It strongly applies what constructivism theory implies. At the beginning, it guides students to attain the final result until they can finally do the tasks on their own. For example, when a learner fails to answer a question, the application provides hints for them to guess. At the end, the will find it very effective to learn English as a second language. This is actually a form of ZPD.

Constructivist learning is based on students' active participation in problem-solving and critical thinking regarding a learning activity which they find relevant and engaging. They are "constructing" their own knowledge by testing ideas and approaches based on their prior knowledge and experience, applying these to a new situation, and integrating the new knowledge gained with pre-existing intellectual constructs. This site promotes the full use of constructivist learning through a wide range of language activity especially with the problem-solving activities. Through this application, students become active learners.

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

When it is stated that computers as ‘slaves’ and ‘masters’ to the learning process, it is rather untrue. It is fair to say that this website provide help and assistance for both teachers and learners. So, it does not replace the role of the teacher but rather to steer the learning.

In my humble opinion, this website serves as a facilitator in language learning. It guides, facilitates, and helps students for better comprehension. If by using computers or this site alone can solve all of the problems, there should be no teachers in the field.

I believe that teacher needs to be there to teach students whatever they need to know. Then, the website application serves as the mastery tool for students to understand whatever taught in classrooms.

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

Yes. I really look forward to use the application for my future work! I strongly believe that nowadays, we need to adapt with current trend of education. This website offers an extension of what can be done in classrooms. It also makes it easier for teachers to look for resources in teaching and learning.

The design features of this website can help to reinforce learning. The layout is simple. It is easy to navigate within the site and from one activity to another. You can even listen to the English radio while doing grammar activity!

The methodologies implied within the website are also need to be taken into consideration. The site is highly learner-centred. It gives immediate feedback when wrong answer is given. It also gives clues for learners. The learning also progresses as the level of difficulty progress.

This site encourages learners to engage and participate in the on-line discussions and forums. This is very useful when they can also make friends around the globe and at the same time, learn the language. The best thing about this site besides its tutorial session is the “Relaxation” part. It serves as the closure of every lesson. It is optional but the purpose is clear which is to promote “Endless-learning”.

*Suggestions/Recommendations:

I strongly believe that the website is interactive. It provides extension to learn English through many good ways. However, I would like to suggest for this site to provide Email and Print functions. This would be useful in the future. The graphics and aiding images should be added to underpin learning. Perhaps, the moderator can add some more animated characters to attract learners. I noticed that this website does not have FAQ section. In the future, it is hoped that the moderator will publish FAQ section for users. This can actually help users to study the site for better exploration.