ESL/EFL Website Reviews

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Language Learning Website Review Form**
**Please cite as: Son, J.-B. (2003). Language learning website review form. https://drjbson.com/projects/web_reviews/language_learning_website_review_form.pdf

Publication: Son, J.-B. (2005). Exploring and evaluating language learning Web sites. In J.-B. Son & S. O'Neill (Eds.), Enhancing learning and teaching: Pedagogy, technology and language (pp. 215-227). Post Pressed.

To participate in the review of the Web sites below, please contact the Project Team Leader.

Activities for ESL Students

URL http://a4esl.org/

Level Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

Activities
GrammarVocabulary

Description
This site by The Internet TESL Journal uses simple design and is easy to navigate. It claims to have over 1000 activities, organised in three ways: according to category (grammar, vocabulary, crosswords); by browser requirements (HTML-only, JavaScript, Flash); and for bi-lingual quizzes. Some activities are not grammatical in nature, and cover interest areas such as science, celebrations, cultures and job skills. Activities provide a score and show the correct answer after each attempt at a question. Other options take the user to Web links and ideas for teachers.

>>Website evaluation

Advanced composition for non-native speakers of English

URL http://www204.pair.com/ebaack/ (not available)

Level Intermediate to Advanced

Activities
ReadingWritingGrammar

Description
This site is designed for students who have had limited or no formal English composition training and who have achieved TOEFL scores of 500 or more. Instructions are provided on the following essay styles: Giving Instructions, Cause/Effect, Comparison/Contrast, Persuasion, and Research Papers. Professional and student examples are also given for each style. Further information and quizzes are provided on correct sentence structure, how to write and use adjective clauses, appositives, and topic sentences, and correct use of parallel structure and subject/verb agreements. There are links to present and past student Web sites, free books and other related sites.

>>Website evaluation

English Club

URL https://www.englishclub.com/

Level Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

Activities
ReadingWritingListeningSpeakingGrammarVocabulary

Description
EnglishClub.com is easy to navigate and its simple design is easy on the eye. Visitors can select from options explaining grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation as well as how to improve in the four macroskills. There are interactive quizzes and games as well as jokes, information on ESL/EFL tests, a forum and chat room (using ChatSpace). Visitors can sign up to a penpal list and a free E-magazine can be sent to the visitor via e-mail. It contains lessons, quizzes, tips, articles, games, letters and news. Other options include English for Business, English for Kids, English Study Abroad and English Resources.

>>Website evaluation

English Exercises Online

URL http://www.smic.be/smic5022/ (not available)

Level Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

Activities
ReadingWritingListeningGrammarVocabulary

Description
This site provides on-line exercises involving grammar and dictation, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and miscellaneous exercises. The exercises provide solutions after answers are attempted, while some also provide the user with scores. The lessons may be selected according to level, by subject and also by exercise type. Some activities provide hints to answers. This site also contains an option to reproduce handouts covering areas of text writing, grammar and dictation, vocabulary, and miscellaneous exercises such as a speed-spelling quiz. The ESL Internet Tour shows a list of English language learning and teaching sites.

>>Website evaluation

English Forum

URL https://www.englishforum.com/

Level Beginning to Intermediate

Activities
ReadingGrammarVocabulary

Description
Upon entering English Forum, Visitors are confronted with numerous options and information. The blue boxes in the centre of the page contain choices specifically for ESL/EFL students and teachers. There is a student message board, interactive exercises covering grammar, vocabulary and idioms, where immediate feedback is provided in the form of a score, incorrect and correct choices, and information concerning specific questions. The user can double click on any vocabulary item to access that word in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Visitors can view an international English language schools guide and book catalogues. Links take the visitor to interactive activities from English International and Internet TESL Journal, and other sites containing resources, job listings, schools, exams, and reference books.

>>Website evaluation

ESL Café

URL https://www.eslcafe.com/

Level Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

Activities
ReadingWritingGrammarVocabulary

Description
Dave’s ESL Café has simple design features and easy to use functions. Student Forums, Teacher Forums and a Job Centre, are available from the main menu. Options for ESL activities and quizzes are provided. After completing a language quiz, incorrect and correct choices, and a final score are shown. Students may also participate in numerous discussions, covering cinema, TOEFL, sports, family, health and fitness, music and science. Teachers may participate in discussion forums and some teachers are available to answer questions at the ‘Help Center’. Navigators may also find answers to 'Frequently Asked Questions', go to ‘Chat Central’, a bookstore, and view quotes and slang.

>>Website evaluation

ESL Cyber Listening Lab

URL https://www.esl-lab.com/

Level Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

Activities
ListeningVocabulary

Description
The ESL Cyber Listening Lab contains numerous quizzes in ‘general quizzes’, ‘quizzes for academic purposes’, ‘long conversations’, or ‘short listening exercises’, and visitors can select their level. Either Basic RealPlayer or Divace must be installed in order to listen to the audio files, however the listening task scripts are also available. Each activity prompts students to read pre-listening questions and then to click on the audio component. After listening to the dialogue or story, students complete a number of quizzes testing vocabulary, and general listening comprehension. The answers are assessed and a score provided. Some activities contain post-listening tasks and explanations to answers. There are links to bulletin boards and a voice mailbox, among others.

>>Website evaluation

Grammar Bytes!

URL https://www.chompchomp.com/

Level Beginning to Intermediate

Activities
Grammar

Description
Grammar Bytes is an easy-to-follow site, providing visitors with interactive grammar activities, options to print ‘handouts’ and view an index of grammar terms and their associated rules. The activities are focussed on beginning to intermediate students, however the associated explanations and rules would be incomprehensible for beginning students. Upon answering an on-line activity, an immediate response indicates a correct or incorrect answer choice, with options for the grammar rule to be explained or an option to try again if incorrect.

>>Website evaluation

Guide to Grammar and Writing

URL http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ (previously http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/)

Level Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

Activities
WritingGrammarVocabulary

Description
A comprehensive list of grammatical terms with detailed explanations and numerous associated quizzes are found at this Grammar and Writing site. Grammatical explanations can be searched at the word, sentence or paragraph level, and even at the essay and research paper level. Upon completing one of 172 interactive quizzes, immediate feedback with correct and incorrect responses is provided. The navigator can view PowerPoint presentations of various grammar explanations and examples, while a guest book and a grammar poll are also supplied. Links are provided to dictionaries, thesauruses, magazines, newspapers, and other language learning Web sites.

>>Website evaluation