TSL 641 Computer Assisted Language Learning

1. What does the website or MOOC or app or tool attempt to “teach”? Are exercises or activities included in the website? What are the types of exercise or activities included? Are there immediate feedbacks? Are there different levels of difficulty for different proficiency levels? {You can any other comments you deem necessary)

The website which is British Council Learn English http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en is one of the leading website in helping the second language learner in acquiring English. The website includes various exercises such as "English Grammar, Quick Grammar and Vocabulary exercises". The website also provide exercises in terms of enhancing your English skills which mainly focuses on "Listening exercises, Writing exercises and Reading exercises". The feedback given from the website is immediate and the levels of difficulty are sorted into three categories. The categories being "LearnEnglishKids, TeachingEnglish and LearnEnglish Teens". Having to try and participate with the websites' exercises and activities, the help and guidance given would be off significance help to both second language learner and also the teachers in enhancing their abilities.

2. What are the learners/visitors required to do with regards to learning the content of the website or MOOC or apps?

The learners are required to create an account using their email which is very easy and straight forward. If one wishes to learn and brush up on their Reading skills; they only need to follow the given instruction and choose from a variety of topic suitable and interesting for them. For example, one of the topic is about animal conservation, the learners are then given a text to read with an additional help of audio recording which they can listen to work on their pronunciation. Afterwards they can answer questions and discuss their opinion on the comments and as for the Grammar and Vocabulary exercises; the learners are provided with various exercises on pronoun, adjectives, verbs, possessive, clause, phrases and many more. They just simply click on the exercise and are given a very acute and precise explanation on the grammar rules accompany by a short answer question where the feedback is immediate and followed by an explanation. The website also provide a link to their mobile app which is rated as the #1 educational mobile app.

3. Does the website or MOOC or app or tools present learners with something that cannot be done in a face-to-face classroom? If yes, how so?

Yes the website does provide the present learners with something that they cannot received in a face to face classroom such as a safehaven for them to learn, practice and use the language with help far more convenient than those that are found in the classroom. The incorrect answers are immediately provided with a feedback which is both friendly and coupled with an interactive explanation that will compel the learner to not only try harder but also to increase their motivation in learning the language as a whole. The website is also accessible in anytime and anywhere and with the introduction of the mobile app, anywhere can be a safe place for the learner to practice the usage of the language. In contradiction with the traditional classroom, the time constraint is usually limited to one or two hours only and students do not have enough time to learn everything they need in the time given. The students level of proficiency is also hard to be identified and catered by the teacher but the website provides a solution for it where the learner has the power to choose which levels of proficiency is suitable for them.

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

One of the theories used and applied in the application is Collaborative learning by Lev Vygotsky 1962 which stated we learn through our interactions and communications with others.  Vygotsky (1962) examined how our social environments influence the learning process.  He suggested that learning takes place through the interactions students have with their peers, teachers, and other experts.  Consequently, teachers can create a learning environment that maximizes the learner's ability to interact with each other through discussion, collaboration, and feedback. This is shown in the exercise skills which learner are to discuss their opinion and answers at the given comment where they are free to reply and support each other's feedback. This interaction and form of educational communication will help the learner to broaden their understanding of the language and also the three major skills in the website.

https://jan.ucc.nau.edu/lsn/educator/edtech/learningtheorieswebsite/vygotsky.htm (the url of the collaborative theory)

5. An important criterion for evaluating a CALL program, task or activity is the potential for language learning (i.e. will student learn something?) Does the website or MOOC or app fulfill this criterion? If yes, how so? If no, why?

Yes I believe the students will learn using this Learn English website due to its simplicity in explaining the various rules and forms of English. The students can choose their own prefer activities, task and their level of comprehension from kids, teenagers and adult level. The website also provide help for those who wish to learn English in a relax manner through a programme called studybreak where they can choose from video zone, game, jokes, overcooked and many more. Furthermore, with the introduction of the mobile application, the students can learn whenever and where ever they please with great help and acute guidance provided by the website.


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

Yes all in all I would love for this application to work for me and my students in the near future as it is a great form of learning, revision and task completion. It offers various help from enhancing the three listening, writing and reading skills and task completion starting from grammar and vocabularies exercises. The other biggest advantage is the simplicity and convenience it provides for me to be able to access it anyway in my phone. I can also cater to the needs of my students with all of the tools provided and the interesting topic. The usage of this application does go beyond the traditional classroom and help to give the students more ways of learning.