Website Evaluation

Website Title: The Linguist on Language
Website URL: www.thelinguist.blogs.com
Grade/age level: Adults
Language: The content is presented in English but it’s about learning any language.

The intended purpose of this website is to give help to people who love language but were discourage to have a place where they can ask and discuss how to learn a language. The writer presented a variety of useful ways of learning a language including the use of his own experiences when learning a foreign language. There are many topics on this website that reader can click and read if they are interested in some particular topics. Some example of the topics are “I want to speak better”, “ The Linguist Method”, etc. The reader can respond and post questions they may have on this website as well. One thing I found interesting is that every page I visited, there was a picture of a nice looking native speaker of English (I supposed) in a nice jacket smiling at me. I guess that help ensure readers that this website was written by a native speaker who seems like a qualified linguist. (I don’t know if I am judging a book from its cover!!!) That probably helps some readers to be confident in this website.

In addition, this blog has a link to LingQ which is created for all language learners, from absolute beginners to advanced speakers, from people learning on their own to students in classrooms. LingQ has many features. Readers can download songs to practice English, write to penpal in this cyber community, practice pronunciation and many more. In general the website is easy to use. The navigation and layout are fine. However, the things that need to be improved are the font size(too small) and more colorful looking. Apart from those two, I really think this is another interesting website to check it out.

Reading Reflection

Egbert’s article has provided very good background of computer assisted language learning (CALL). He addressed important points including definitions and principles of CALL, research in CALL, guidelines for using educational technology in language classrooms.

Egbert (2005) gave five guidelines for using educational technology in language classrooms. Those five guidelines are as follows:
1. Use technology to support the pedagogical goals of the class and curriculum.
2. Make the technology accessible to all learners.
3. Use the technology as a tool.
4. Use technology effectively.
5. Use technology efficiently.

In my opinions, these guidelines are very useful and they are something language teachers should keep in mind when designing CALL lessons. For example, guideline #1 basically says that teachers should use computer facility such as a computer lab only when it fits their language lesson plans. They should not use a computer lab only for the reason that the lab is assigned to them on a specific day. Guideline #2 suggests that CALL activities should address more than one types or styles of learning. As we know, language learners come into a classroom with different learning styles and strategies. Some learners may be a visual type learner meaning that they learn best by looking at printed text, graphs, charts, that sort of things. Some other learners may be those who are auditory learners meaning that they learn best by listening and discussing. Therefore, to get the most out of CALL, teachers will have to design CALL activities that could serve most learning styles.

I could go on and on but the point I want to make is that language teachers should use technology as a tool to support language learning. They should not use technology because it’s something that is currently “in fashion” or because everybody is using it. Changing form books and blackboards to computers doesn’t mean much if teachers don’t put their efforts on designing CALL lessons.