UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY MARA (UITM)

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

COURSE CODE: TSL 641

COMPUTER ASISSTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

CALL WEBSITE EVALUATION: ESLESCHOOL.COM

GROUP: ED 241 8C

PREPARED FOR: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Izaham Shah Ismail

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 13th November 2020

 CALL MATERIAL EVALUATION: https://www.esleschool.com/

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

ESLeschool website users especially teachers and students can easily utilize these
activities, exercises and games to develop a better understanding on English. This
website offers an experience whereby teachers are no longer have difficulty in
obtaining materials that could cater different language skills and different proficiency
level. Not only that, the activities included are fun, interesting and interactive as well.
Aside from activities and practice, free enrolment in courses are being offered to the
learners studying at home. The enrolment is free and open to everyone. The best
feature of this courses are learners can track their learning progress and able to learn
at their own pace. These courses fit learners that require time to progress because the
learners must follow the course step by step.

As for the activities and exercises, the website includes each type of essential
language skills that needed for every ESL learner which are reading, listening, writing
and speaking. Furthermore, this website not only focusing on the main skills, but
additional language skills like vocabulary and grammar are covered as well. Apart
from completing exercise and watching videos, this website also provides interactive
games to the learners. These games reassure that learners will no longer feel
exhausted or not motivated in doing the exercises or study. Types of games included
in this website are crossword, word puzzles, memory card games and word searches.

Each exercise, practice or games in this website present immediate feedback to the
learners. Learners can immediately check their answers and getting feedback on how
many points that they get. Solution and right answers will be shown when the learners
give incorrect answers. Therefore, by giving immediate feedback, the learners’
repetitive mistakes can be easily detected hence learners are much more aware of their
weaknesses.

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2. What are the learners required to do with regards to learning the content of the
website?

There are 3 ways that learners can do upon visiting this website. First and foremost,
there is no sign up or log in needed if the learner wanted to practice by doing exercises.
What learners can do first is confirming their English level test in this website. If the
learners are uncertain about their level, this website offers free level test to find out which
course to follow. After determining the level, the learners can choose which skills that
they want to practice for example listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary and
grammar. Moreover, there is a slot for interactive way to practice which is by clicking the
games section. Learners and teachers can click on the games and choose types of games
that they prefer like word puzzle games, memory card game, word search and flash cards.
Then, the users can choose various topics listed from the game.

Second way is learners can sign up and log in into this website by providing their
email address, username and so on. For learners who like self-study at home, they can
enrol for free courses. The courses have been categorized into different level like English
A1 (for elementary), English A2 (for pre-intermediate) and lastly English B1 (for
Intermediate). The class is similar to Open Learning platform whereby learners are able to
track their progress and monitor their achievement so far. In addition, the class enrolled
by the learners is done by following steps by steps just like learning in the classroom. For
example, the class will start with speaking practice first, followed by listening practice,
vocabulary practice, grammar practice, writing practice and lastly exam practice. The
learners need to complete each topic before they could progress to the next topic. When
the learners participate in the course, rewards in point will be awarded to the learners.

The third way is for visual and auditory learners. The learners may click on ‘latest
video available’, learners will discover plentiful of short animation Youtube videos. Next,
learners can just choose which video that they like or prefer and learn from the videos.
The animated videos are very appealing to the visual learners.

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

Unlike face to face classroom, this website eases the learners in terms of personalised
learning. Personalised learning here means learners can learn and study at their own pace
that suits their abilities. In learning, learners may have difficulties in mastering certain
topic or tasks, therefore this platform eases the learning whereby learners can have more
time to repeat and practice until they mastered it. Learners also can choose proficiency
level that suits their target level language. For example, if the learners are in pre-school,
they can go to beginner level. This website incorporates each proficiency level starting
from beginner to elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate and
lastly advanced level. Meaning that, every generation ESL learner can utilize this website
for their own benefit in improving English.

Apart from that, the materials in this website which is Youtube video and course
enrolment are practical for the learners as they can learn at diverse time and place unlike
face-to-face classroom. They can study whenever they like and wherever they like. For
example, learners can keep on playing videos repeatedly until they comprehend the
lesson, as well as progressing the course whenever they feel to do so. There is no time
constraint and place restricted when it comes to learning by using this website. Another
thing about this website is that, the courses offered are free. The enrolment for class is
free and there are 3 courses that the learners can choose. Each course has over 50 reading,
listening and writing quizzes with four tutor-marked assignments. The learners’ work and
tasks will be marked by tutors which means teaching and learning process are apparent by
following this course. Learning can be two-way interaction even though it is
asynchronous because feedback will be given by the tutor.

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

One of theory of language learning underlies within this website is constructivist theory.
This is because learners will involve in independent learning. From constructivist theory,
independent learning indicates that knowledge is constructed by the learner rather than being
transferred. According to Livingston K. (2012), he defines independent learning as a method
or learning process in which learners own and control their learning. He further describes that
learners learn by their own actions, and direct, regulate, assess their own learning. The
learners are capable to set goals, make choices, and decisions on how to achieve their
learning objectives. In addition, learners also hold responsibility for constructing and carrying
out their learning, monitor their progress to meet learning objectives and self-assess the
outcomes.

This theory has been implemented in this website at the self-enrolment courses section.
Enrolling in a course promote learners to be independent of their learning progress. Learners
have to choose the level appropriately to match with their proficiency. For example, for
learners that have a basic knowledge, they can choose English Intermediate Level (B1) to
continue building their skills. At this course section, learners started to explore everything
and own the learning process. For example, learners will have opportunities to self-monitor
their learning progress. Learners can see whether they are making progress and mastered each
language skills. Each topic requires learners to complete speaking practice, listening practice,
vocabulary practice, grammar practice, and lastly writing practice. Learners can take their
time to master each skill and evaluate whether their strategies are effective or not. By sorting
each skill in sequence, learners will become aware of the steps involved in their learning that
will help them to understand their own learning style. In addition, this course has a section
whereby it keeps records on the learners’ points. Whenever the learners complete task or
making progress, they will be rewarded with points. By including reward systems, this has
encouraged the learners to set their own learning goals hence making them feel empowered to
control their learning. Thus, learners who wanted to achieve their goals, it makes them to feel
responsible to do so.

Moreover, cognitive theory has been associated with regards to other materials which are
exercises, practices and Youtube videos. As suggested by Jean Piaget, he viewed human
beings as having innate capacity to develop logical thinking. He suggested that logical

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thinking is the underlying factors for linguistic and non-linguistic development. In this case,
learners apply their logical thinking to guess meaning from context, using imagery for
memorisation, summarising meaning and includes repetition. Most of the exercises in this
website begins with learners to understand a simple concepts or basic rules of the language
and then proceed with simple questions to make sure learners comprehend the simple concept
first. Moreover, Jean Piaget proposed that there are different stages of development which are
sensorimotor stage, pre-operational stage, concrete operation stage and formal operation
stage. He believed that a child thinks differently at each stage. As mentioned before, in this
website, the lesson and practices are assorted in different level and stage which starting from
beginner until advanced level. Each level represents different age that is appropriate to the
level. For example, beginner level is appropriate for 4 to 7 years old because the exercise
focused on the learners’ ability to recognize shapes, things, words and so on.

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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 fulfil this criterion? If yes, how so? If no, why?

Yes, I do agree that this website achieves certain criteria for CALL program which is
language learning potential. This website not only provide materials, but it also teaches
the learners in many ways. As for learning potential, learners do have potential to learn in
which the website offers free enrolment in class, abundant of practices, exercises as well
as videos from Youtube. Learners will be able to demonstrate their abilities in ways that
stimulate their thinking by doing a lot of practices and exercises given.

As mentioned before, this website covers all essential language skills needed for
every ESL learner namely reading, writing, speaking, listening, vocabulary and grammar.
All the contents incorporate in this website are related and focused on English. For
example, listening section focuses on the learners’ ability to listen effectively and able to
understand, and interpret the messages by choosing the right answers. The listening audio
will be repeated twice and if the learners still had a hard time to comprehend the message,
a transcript from the listening audio is available to the learners.

In addition, the website presented with different type of exercise such as multiple-
choice questions, gap filling exercise, and matching exercise for beginner learners.
Learners are required to click the right answer or write the answer and towards the end,
learners can check their answers. Another way is learners can check each answer before
completing all questions. Incorrect answers given by the learners can be fixed whereby
learners can retry to answer once again and solution will be given. Immediate feedback
given can increase potential in learning the language due to repetition in correcting their
mistakes.

Furthermore, language learning potential also increase when the learners enrol in a
course. The course enables the learners to become pro-active of the learning process.
They will engage in the learning by actively finding information as well as seeking help.
Then, the learners also become more independent, take charge of their own learning and
able to set goals and monitor their goals in learning. Thus, these behaviours fulfil the
criteria of successful learners.

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6. Would you like to use the website yourself in your future work? Yes? Provide
reason(s), No? Provide (reason)

Unquestionably, I will use this website in my future work for the reason that it allows
me to access exercises and practices that could cater to my learners’ abilities. Providing
an appropriate exercise to each learner is crucial to allow the learners making progress in
improving the language. Therefore, I think this website surely will help a lot of teachers
and learners out there who struggles in finding suitable exercises for them.

In addition, in term of the content, I believe the website present with appropriate
content that mainly focus on learning the language. Next, I like this website because it
fulfils criteria of learner fit in which this website incorporates tasks that are appropriate to
the learners’ proficiency level. The learners’ learning style as well as their proficiency
level is well cultivated in the form of practices, exercises, and class enrolment.
Furthermore, in terms of practicality, the website manages to ease the learners and
teachers to utilize in the classroom. Learners can easily sign up and enrol in a course
without having to pay. Hence, all learners are no longer having to face problems in terms
of paying for the subscription. Without doubt, teachers can fully utilize the materials from
this website which are videos and exercises to be given to the learners in the classroom.

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 PICTURES AND DESCRIPTION ESLESCHOOL.COM

Level of proficiency starts from beginner to elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-

intermediate and advanced level. Furthermore, free courses are also available.

English additional skills which are vocabulary skills and grammar skills. Here also have
different types of language games which are crosswords, word searches, memory card and word
puzzles.

Language skills offered for each level like reading,

writing, listening, speaking, grammar and vocabulary.
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 Free Youtube videos are
available for the learners and
teachers to utilize in the
teaching and learning.

This is an example of
crossword puzzle games.

It has a button to check the

correct answers.

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g

This website includes some tips and

instruction on how to answer the
questions.

This is content of the course.

Each topic includes
objectives of the topic,
speaking practice, listening
practice, vocabulary practice,
grammar practice, reading
practice, writing practice and
lastly
This is the button forassessment.
checking
each answer in which learners
can get immediate feedback.

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Course enrolment section
 Learners’ progress in the course

Collected rewards points

from the course

REFERENCES

Free English Online Exercise and Activities for all levels. (2020, August 30). Retrieved
November 12, 2020, from https://www.esleschool.com/

Livingston K. (2012) Independent Learning. In: Seel N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the
Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_895

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