For this task, I'm going to evaluate Dave's ESL Cafe, a site I've been using regularly since 2007 (after being introduced by Mr Mahadi in Creative Writing class).
1. What does the application attempt to "teach"?
With the tagline "The Internet's meeting place for ESL + EFL teachers + students from around the world!” Dave ESL Cafe is a complete one-stop centre for teachers, students and everyone who is interested in English language teaching and learning. To make browsing easier, its contents are organised according to different categories, which are; Jobs, Stuff for Teachers, Stuff for Students, and Stuff for Everyone. Thus, users can simply choose which category they are fallen into and search for the information they want.
2. What sorts of things is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?
In the Jobs category, users can search for teaching job vacancies from various 'Job Boards' - International, Korean and China. Apart from that, they can also post their resume for potential employers, join discussions in various forum columns, and browse through a comprehensive selection of ESL/EFL job links throughout the Web.
In the Stuff for Teachers category, apart from join some forums and discussions, teachers and trainee teachers easily find various useful ideas in the 'Idea Cookbook', from great ideas on ESL/EFL texts, to ideas on how to keep your students in order, and everything in between. I frequently browse through the Idea Cookbook, especially for microteaching ideas and during my practicum, to search for creative and effective classroom activities, shared by real English teachers from around the world.
The next category is the Stuff for Students. There are lessons and quizzes (in 'Multiple Choice' form) on grammar, idioms, phrasal verbs, pronunciation, and even ‘slang’. Similar to the first two categories, there are also forum sections, where students can discuss and share their problems or enquiries.
Lastly, in the Stuff for Everyone category, users will be redirected to the Alta Book Center, claiming to be the largest source of ESL books and materials in the world. There is also a chat central, where users can chat with other online users. Next, there is also a picture gallery with pictures of various subjects from all over the world. Other than that, users can read interesting trivia in the ‘Today in History’ section.
In the Stuff for Teachers category, apart from join some forums and discussions, teachers and trainee teachers easily find various useful ideas in the 'Idea Cookbook', from great ideas on ESL/EFL texts, to ideas on how to keep your students in order, and everything in between. I frequently browse through the Idea Cookbook, especially for microteaching ideas and during my practicum, to search for creative and effective classroom activities, shared by real English teachers from around the world.
The next category is the Stuff for Students. There are lessons and quizzes (in 'Multiple Choice' form) on grammar, idioms, phrasal verbs, pronunciation, and even ‘slang’. Similar to the first two categories, there are also forum sections, where students can discuss and share their problems or enquiries.
Lastly, in the Stuff for Everyone category, users will be redirected to the Alta Book Center, claiming to be the largest source of ESL books and materials in the world. There is also a chat central, where users can chat with other online users. Next, there is also a picture gallery with pictures of various subjects from all over the world. Other than that, users can read interesting trivia in the ‘Today in History’ section.
3. What sort of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?
This website is very user-friendly and simple to use. Users can navigate easily throughout the website as there are clear links that can bring them directly to where they want to go. For the quizzes section, as most of the questions are the multiple-choice type, users just have to click on their chosen answers. Therefore, I believe that everybody can access this website, as long as they know how to click a mouse.
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?
As stated earlier, I have accessed this website frequently to search for teaching ideas and also browsing through the teaching posts abroad. It also reminds me of various activities my friends and I conducted during our microteaching, as the activities suggested are exciting and engaging. However, sadly, it does not resemble any activities that my previous teachers had done, as they only use ‘chalk and talk’ method in class.
5. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
Cognitivism – stresses that learning involves mental processes, such as thinking, memorizing, and problem-solving. As the contents of this website consist of lesson and quizzes, learners reading the lessons will be the thinking and memorizing part, while answering the quizzes will be the problem-solving part. Other than that, cognitivists believe that learning is defined as change in a learner’s schemata. Thus, as the schemata of the learners develops (by reading the lessons and answering the quizzes), the more the learners will learn.
Second Language Acquisition - Stephen Krashen mentioned that, "The best methods are therefore those that supply 'comprehensible input' in low anxiety situations, containing messages that students really want to hear. These methods do not force early production in the second language, but allow students to produce when they are 'ready', recognizing that improvement comes from supplying communicative and comprehensible input, and not from forcing and correcting production." As learners only interact with the computer, the anxiety level is definitely lower than a classroom full of other learners and a teacher. Next, according to Krashen, there are two independent systems of second language performance; 'the acquired system' and 'the learned system'. This website offers the second system - 'learned system' or 'learning', which is the product of formal instruction and it comprises a conscious process which results in conscious knowledge about the language, for example knowledge of grammar rules.
Second Language Acquisition - Stephen Krashen mentioned that, "The best methods are therefore those that supply 'comprehensible input' in low anxiety situations, containing messages that students really want to hear. These methods do not force early production in the second language, but allow students to produce when they are 'ready', recognizing that improvement comes from supplying communicative and comprehensible input, and not from forcing and correcting production." As learners only interact with the computer, the anxiety level is definitely lower than a classroom full of other learners and a teacher. Next, according to Krashen, there are two independent systems of second language performance; 'the acquired system' and 'the learned system'. This website offers the second system - 'learned system' or 'learning', which is the product of formal instruction and it comprises a conscious process which results in conscious knowledge about the language, for example knowledge of grammar rules.
6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website(s)?
The Nature of Learner – Firstly, from the social constructivist viewpoint, it is important to take into account the background and culture of the learner throughout the learning process, as this background helps to shape the knowledge and truth that the learner creates, discovers and attains in the learning process. As there are no ‘real’ teachers in this website, there will be nobody to take into account the background and culture of the learner to help the learning process. However, as the lessons in this website are organised in a non-linear way, each student can apply their own learning style and learn in whichever way he/she is comfortable in (lessons first quizzes later, a lesson a quiz, or quizzes then lesson (explanation). Secondly, social constructivism emphasizes the importance of the learner being actively involved in the learning process, rather than solely on the teacher. Thus, by learning or revising through this website, the learner will totally be in control of his/her learning. Lastly, in terms of the motivation for learning, constructivists believe that sustaining motivation to learn is strongly dependent on the learner’s confidence in his or her potential for learning and they also need to be challenged within close proximity to, yet slightly above, their current level of development. By engaging themselves in the lessons and quizzes prepared in this website, students can cater to their own needs and learn at their own pace.
The Role of the Teacher – constructivists believe that the teacher should act as a facilitator. I believe that the teacher can achieve this by letting the students to be in control of revising what have been learnt in class through this website. This will prevent the class from being teacher-centered and reduce the ‘chalk and talk’ teaching method.
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?
No matter how modern and advanced a computer is, I don’t believe that it can ever replace a teacher. This is because, a computer is merely a programmed device and it doesn’t have a teacher’s compassion and wisdom. Students can learn more from a teacher, not just from verbal communication, but also non-verbal communication like eye contact, face expressions, and many more. Thus, a computer can probably be considered as an obedient servant to students, in assisting their learning process.
8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work? Give reasons.
I would definitely use this application again in the future. Other than searching for exciting and efficient teaching materials and abroad teaching posts, I will introduce this website to my students so they can also acquire the many benefits this website offered. Every now and then, I will bring my students to the computer lab and do the activities and quizzes in the website together, so that my students will be more exposed to the concept of revising by using this comprehensive website.
9. Suggestion/Recommendations.
The only addition I would like to see in this amazing website is a ‘Language Game’ section. This is because, I think that playing language games is a great and enjoyable way for learners to learn and revise the English language. I also believe that learners are more attracted to fun and exciting activities and thus will increase their motivation to learn.
References:
Dave ESL Cafe
Stephen Krashen's Theory of Second Language Acquisition
Learning-Theories.com
*UPDATE*
This website is so reliable that Young Money mentioned it in his article "Work Abroad: Twelve Jobs That Keep You on the Road" which has been featured in Yahoo Buzz.
Reviewed by:
Tuan Syazwani Tuan Azhar
2005478989
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