ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION

Hello! I've found an ESL website that caters to students in learning English as a second language. This is my review on the website.

1. This website is suitable for learners who want to learn grammar and enhance their vocabulary. It offers a wide variety of topics like nature, health and weather that are essential to second language learners. As for grammar section, learners can learn the grammar components such as prepositions, tenses and adjectives which are very important in acquiring the language. Unfortunately, there is no notes given for each topic. Instead, learners acquire knowledge through the exercises given. This can be a barrier for the learners who want to understand the concept first before proceed to the exercises given. They need to refer to another website for the explanation on the topic especially the grammar component. The exercises included are quite beneficial and interactive too. Forget fill in the blanks or yes/no type of exercises because this website offers exercises using games. Memory games, hangman and many more are used for a more fun and interactive learning process whether in class or at home. There are also printables games and powerpoint games for learners to venture into. Learners can practice their skills in writing, listening and reading too except that the writing part is very limited to a few sentences only. There are immediate feedbacks given too. The comments given are short and simple too. For each exercise, there is a simple explanation on the game and also suitability of the game whether it fits for young, beginner or intermediate level but none for advanced learners. I believe educational games should also cater to learners of advanced proficiency too with more challenging content. Hence, this is something that this website cannot cater to but can improve in future.

2. It is easy for the learners to browse through the website without having to sign up. There is a register section for learners who want to receive updates on the latest addition of the website. Users do not need to pay anything if they want to use the content in the website. Moreover, there are games that can be played using mobile/ipad by clicking on the button available. So, it is a mobile-friendly website that learners can browse on the go. There is a quick 'search' button for learners to make a quick search without having to go through the topic listed. At the left side of website, there is a toolbar that connects to different social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest if the users wish to share any information on the website. This is definitely a friendly website.

3. Games and language learning are usually associated together. Hangman and memory game are some of the games that my teachers always did back during my school years. My teachers used to draw a hangman or paste some pictures or words on the blackboard. Both of the mentioned games are familiar as most teachers use those games in class and limited to vocabulary and some grammar components. During that time, there is none like interactive games like these. This website sets another standard for language games because it incorporates different types of games as exercises for different purposes. 

4. This website definitely presents learners with something that cannot be done in a textbook/workbook because the exercises are mostly interactive games that requires a computer. Some exercises require learners to click on images, type on answers or even listen to some phrases. There are time given, retry button and reset button that cannot be found on paper-based exercises. The exercises are more friendly to the students because of the moving images, sounds and scores used that can attract the students throughout the learning process. But some of the printables like crosswords and word search can definitely be found in textbook/workbook abundantly.  

5. From my observation, this website employing the 'Multiple Intelligences' theory. This website is very informative, interactive and fun to browse through. There is a mixture of visual-spatial, musical, linguistic and even logical-mathematical aspects in this website. The developer(s) integrated graphics, music and texts in learning language. The best part is that, problem solving and critical thinking are also embedded in the exercises listed which can help the students to use both parts of their brain actively while learning language. The concept of educational games is promoting learning while having fun. Other than that, it can be seen that this website promotes 'Independent Learning'. Learners can simply browse and learn through the exercises without having someone to tutor them on the topic. The immediate feedback given can help the learners to identify their mistakes better. 

6. Some of the exercises in this website have the potential for language learning because of the interactive games use as the main platform to reach learners. Although they are using games as part of their learning activities, they exercises given are quite direct and give more room for learners to actually gain something from the games played.  The exercises provided in the website focus on grammar and vocabulary hence towards the end, there is definitely something that the learners can benefit from it. 

7. I will definitely use this website in future. This website is very helpful to check the students' understanding in a fun way. I can explain the topic first and ask them to do the exercise in this website first before give them challenging exercises. The exercises are mostly direct and simple so the students have bigger chances in understanding the concept of the topic. Plus, there concept of educational games are more suitable with the current and future generation of students since they are the IT generation. Students are more interested in lessons that incorporates IT in their learning process. Therefore, this website is on my top list for future reference. 

That's all for my review. Thank you!

You can refer the website here:

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/