The role of WeQuests in learning a foreign/second language?

     WebQuest is defined as “an inquiry-oriented activity, which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet." (Dodge, 1995). It is designed to use learners' time well, focus on using information rather than looking for it, and support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

     The role of the teacher is to design attractive WebQuest which help the students understanding the lesson, and to give them a clear idea about what she/he wants to teach them. The teacher should be act as a guide and facilitator the process to the students. The role of the student is to learn what is WebQuest and be active participants. Class environment should be interesting and motivating student. Also teacher has to make sure that the classroom is provided with required tools such as computers and internet.

     The use of WebQuest in language teaching has several advantages. It improves the students’ higher-order thinking such as analysis, creativity, or criticism rather than just acquiring information. WebQuest Support critical thinking and problem solving through authentic assessment, scaffolding, and technology integration. WebQuest can also use for project-based learning. WebQuest allows students to complete authentic projects and use technology to find and present information. In addition, WebQuest involves collaborative learning where students engaged in constructivist activities resulting in shared learning experiences and new knowledge.

     As an EFL teacher, I will use WebQuest with my students because it will increase the students’ motivation. It enhances the development of transferable skills. In addition, it Provide a situation in which students acquire information, debate issues, participate in meaningful discussions, solve problems and collaborate with their peers. In my opinion, WebQuest is a useful tool to be used in TEFL/TESL.

Evaluating Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

     Randall's ESL cyber listening lab is a commercial site that supposed to enhance and support learning listening skill. The site is divided into three columns. The first column consists of advertisement related language learning, culture videos, website information, teacher resources and Randall’s pick for language learning from Amazon. The second column has the contents. On the top, some of the sites designed by the same author are mentioned. After that we find the content which mostly is mostly listening materials. These materials are divided into six sections, General   listening quizzes, basic listening quizzes, listening quizzes for academic purposes, 20 minutes - vocabulary lessons, language learning and life tips, long conversation with real video. The last column has an instruction to use this site. This website is designed by Randall Davis . He provides his E-mail , twitter account and facebook page so people can contact with him if they need .

     The purpose of Randall’s ESL site is to enhance English listening skill for any level of difficulties and communication skill. The site contains what we expected to enhance the listening skill. It provides different types of listening activities like conversations, listening quizzes, etc. according to the level of students and deals with functional language skills and everyday life situations and topic. Also, the site has vocabulary lessons and activities which help the learners in preparation for the listening activities. So the purpose of the site is clear and the contents reflect its purpose. Moreover, the site provides useful links to other website. Randall’s ESL site contents expand the experience of the user, but it does not promote any social biases to gender, race, religion, etc.  The site offers an advertisement that does not overshadow the content and distract or annoy the learners.

     The design of this website is good but not great. At the right side there is some white space that could be exploited in a better way. The colors used are mostly light mauve and yellow. It gives the impression that this website is not professional but when you go through the content you find it is really good. The text is easy to read but not to everyone. Some people will be distracted because of the colors. The page does open in a reasonable way without problems. The design elements of the site don’t hinder the accessibility of the site. Students and teachers can use the website for free with no login requirement.

     The content is easy to use. It is easy to access even for those who are hearing impaired. The website has enough information to make visiting useful and informative. The voice in audio records is very clear and each lesson has activities such as pre-listening, listening exercise, vocabulary and post- listening. Also, in each lesson it is clarified the learners' level, topic, and type of audio record, speakers, and length. Readers can easily download the  audio and there is a written form for the audio. There are a lot of links for Randall's other websites. It is clear and easy for learners to move from one website to another. In addition, Spelling and grammar are correct.  Also, we can navigate from page to related page easily without becoming lost. .. This website has a strong point. It is recommended for young and older adult use. It can be used at easy, medium, and difficult levels for beginner, intermediate, and advanced users. The material of this site are current and accurate.

     The site grade level is appropriate to be used in the language classroom for example teachers ask their students to complete certain exercises as classroom activities. The site is also ideal for Learner autonomy where learners engage in the listening activities on their own. The content is attractive for learners since it covers everyday life situation and topics of their needs.

Do teachers need to create web-based language activities for EFL students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Why and why not?

     Web-based activities, quizzes and materials have great potential to enhance learning and positive impacts on student learning. So it is very important to use it in the classroom.  Teachers need to create their own web-based language activities, quizzes and materials for several reasons. These reasons include the activities can easily be modified to support students at different level or with special needs, Materials can be updated easily and often and the students can access course materials or information anytime. Another reason for using Web-based activities that most of the students are digital native so these activities well increase the student motivation to learn because it fits their interest in technology and learning. The teachers in Saudi Arabia should use web-based activities and materials  because the book doesn’t have interactive activities or reliable material to enhance learning.

Virtual Rooms in the Language Classroom

     Last week, I had the class about How does Arabic influence the Pronunciation of English? It was it was virtual classroom with Ms. Peggy Tharpe.  Peggy talked about How Does Arabic Influence the Pronunciation of English? Also she talked about the sound system in Arabic and English and differentiates between them. She compared between vowels and consonant in both language. Peggy mentioned that Arabic speakers usually face the problem of phonological interference as their L1 affects their pronunciation of L2 sounds. At the end, Peggy suggested some solution in order to help them to solve this problem like active listening.
     There are many advantages of virtual rooms in the language classroom. Virtual rooms create a different atmosphere in education program. It helps Students to develop their language and skills such as critical thinking and active listening. Virtual rooms help student to acquire knowledge and experiment a new way of learn using technological resources. Also student can use electronic media like a discussion forum, chat room. In addition, Virtual rooms help Students to learn how to communicate through the internet.
     On other hand, virtual rooms in the language classroom have some disadvantages. First, the computers in class room may have limited access to the internet. Second, teachers need to ensure that students enter the room and everything is OK.
     I will consider the use of virtual classroom in the teaching and learning. I believe it makes a different and interactive class where the integration of technology is the key of change in the ESL/EFL teaching and learning process.

Wordle in EDU 401

“Normalization of Bax in the Saudi Kingdom”

Bax argues that, "Our aim should be to attain a state of normalization in which the technology is invisible and truly integrated"

      This article offers a critical examination of the history of CALL. It discusses the three categories of CALL which are Restricted, Open and Integrated CALL. It is suggested that we are currently using the Open CALL. Our aim should be to attain a state of normalization in which the technology is invisible and truly integrated. Stephen Bax in this article makes an attempt to answer three questions: where has Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) been, where is it now and where is it going? He takes a look at work of Warschauer and Healey (1998 and 2000). They identified three phases of CALL “Structural CALL, Communicative CALL and Integrative CALL”. Bax claims that there are some significant weaknesses in this categorization. As a consequence, Bax propose for a new analysis of the history of CALL which are Restricted CALL, Open CALL and Integrated CALL. Also he claims that this analysis can used as a guide to broad historical developments in CALL. Stephen Bax mentions that we are currently experiencing an Open CALL and the way to achieve the meaning of Open CALL is moving towards normalization. Normalization means a stage when technology is invisible, hardly even recognized as a technology. He also describes the stages of normalization.

     
      There is a great development in using technology in classroom in the Saudi Kingdom. Schools and universities in Saudi Arabia follow the traditional method as a way of teaching and learning .But nowadays many schools and universities improve their educational system. They used technology such as computers, projectors and Ipads in their classroom to facilitate teaching and learning. The Ministry of Education starts working at normalization of CALL in the Saudi Kingdom. In order to achieve normalization of CALL in Saudi Kingdom I think we need to prepare the classroom with computer technology such as a computer, a projector and so on, and change the teachers’ attitude about teaching, train teacher in using new technology in teaching and apply technology effectively for teaching. Also we need to change the students’ attitude about learning and how to use technology for learning inside or outside the classrooms

“Challenges of creating web-based activities in Sally Morrison” Interactive language Learning on the Web”.

 

    Sally Morrison in his article mentions some of the difficulties that face a language teacher who want to create web-based activities. First, the teachers do not have the ability and knowledge of how create Web-based activities. Second, the students use variety of computers with a variety of Web browsers to access the web. Third, the teachers need to design web activities that meet accessibility guidelines for the student with special needs which is very difficult.

    In my opinion, there are many difficulties that will face teachers in Saudi Arabia in creating web-based activities. First, some teachers lack the technical skill and knowledge of creating web activities. Second, the Computers and online devices are not available in language classrooms. Even if the computers are available in classrooms, the school does not have the internet to access the web. Third, some students haven’t been attached to technology and they do not know how to use it like poor students and student who lives in villages. Fourth, the content of the textbooks are not flexible to match web activities. These are the greatest challenge of using web-based activities in Saudi Arabia.

CALL and Language Skills

      Computer-Assisted Language Learning is defined as "the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning." (Levy, 1997). The main aim of CALL is the use of computer technologies that promote educational learning.The use of CALL software such as Windows Messenger, E-mail, the Internet, and other software can be integrated using effective pedagogy to create a powerful language learning programmed. Several studies have shown that CALL has positive effect on language learning. It easily assists and stimulates second language learners in all four skills of listening, speaking, writing and reading .CALL provided a self-paced and motivating language-learning environment in which the students worked with high level of interest.

      The CALL approach assisted students more in developing grammar. There is a number of website which presented grammar activities. The teacher can used online activities to practice which was taught. One of the website that teacher can used in classroom is English4u . This website is a completely free site for learning English specially made for ESL / EFL students in their first years of study. It especially contains the most important English grammar explanations combined with lots of exercises. It also includes information and exercises about countries and cities, some crosswords, irregular verbs and vocabulary exercises, texts and quizzes. It is an online learning website with more than 300 exercises. All activities can be done online and checked directly by clicking the check button on the bottom of each page. For instance: the teacher explains the conditional clauses to the student. Then he/she asks student to open English4u to do exercises to practice the conditional clauses.

Here are some other websites can be used to learn and practice grammar:

• EnglishGrammar.org  is a super useful website for both beginners and advanced learners. You will find the answer for nearly all the questions you can have about English grammar, like Punctuation, Conjunctions, Business Writing, Adjectives, Verbs, and many others.
•  Road to Grammar is an outstanding website with plenty of English grammar activities for various types of language learners seeking to learn English in an efficient and fun manner.
•    Perfect English Grammar is an exceptionally useful and comprehensive resource for language teachers and learners looking for quick, intuitive and easy to use grammar activities.
•   Grammar Quizzes is a non-for-profit, educational website primarily aimed at eager students looking for exceptional resources for understanding, learning and practicing grammar with a wide variety of exercises and practical grammar tips.
•   Grammarly Handbook is an amazing resource to learn English grammar with many examples.

Social Networking Sites

What is your most important reason for using social networking sites?

There are different reasons and several sub-reasons for using social networking sites. For me, the important reason for using social networking sites is to communication and to be remain in contact with my friends and relatives, even though they are very far from me.

Is it possible for you to use them in teaching EFL/ESL?

To me social networks can be used as tool for teaching EFL/ESL. Teacher can used Twitter or Facebook for example: teacher set up a twitter account just for class and asks students used twitter to report real-time news events to the class. Also you can set up your own Twitter account dedicated to just one topic such as historical facts and asks the students to write information or fact. This will motivate students to practice writing skill. In addition, Facebook can be used to create a central page for students and teachers to share information and exchange links, information and polls. And the teacher writes information related to their class and even set homework. Other example is the blog which is a frequently updated website that often resembles an online journal. Teacher can use it as an ideal space for pre-class or post-class discussion. And The Class Blog is a shared space with teacher and students. It is best used as a collaborative discussion space. Students can be encouraged to reflect in more depth, in writing, on themes touched upon in class.

"Computer Assisted Language Learning: an Introduction by Mark Warschauer in his paper"

     Mark Warschauer in his paper defined technological determinism as the idea that the introduction of new technology will brings certain results. It is a doctrine that a society's technology determines its cultural values, social structure, or history. This paper focuses on the change on learning language. Technology now is fundamental to life all people around the word use it which i think it plays an important role in teaching and learning.  In the paper Mark Warschauer lists ten developments in Information and Communication Technology. First, the change from phone-based to wireless communication. Second, from dial-up Internet connections to permanent.  Third, from the use of personal computers to the use of portable computing and online devices. Fourth, from narrowband to broadband. Fifth, from expensive personal computing systems to widely affordable computers in the developed countries and then in the developing countries. As result of this the Internet becomes a mass form of communication accessible to most of the planet. Seventh, change from text-based information and communication to audiovisual forms of information and communication. Eighth, from use of English as the main online language to multilingual Internet use.  Ninth, from non-native to native users of information technology. Tenth, the movement of CALL from the language laboratory to the Classroom. Warschauer also mention the expected effect of these developments on teaching English. The developments of ICT have an effect on the changed context of English use. Because of there are a lot of people throughout the world use English to communicate globally, access international media and commerce. The emergence of new literacies is another result of ICT developments. Because there is a great difference between readings a book in the library and Online, Online readers must constantly determine whether what is written in page is true or not. So, critical literacy is important, all literacy will necessitate critical judgment. Also, new genres will be occur as illustrated by a situation that occurred in an ESL writing course. In addition, online communications is contributing to new identities through the communication with other people and develop a wide range of literacies and identities which help to develop self-confidence and improve language. These changes will introduce and develop the new pedagogies. There has been a general transformation in CALL over the years; this development can be categorized in terms of three phases. Mark Warschauer in paper explains the stages of CALL. First, structural CALL (1970s-1980s) is an approach that followed the teaching techniques of structural linguistics. Programs of this phase entailed as drill and practice. Second, communicative CALL (1980s-1990s) is an approach that followed cognitive view of language learning. Communicative exercises performed as a way of practicing English. Third, integrative CALL (21st Century) based on a socio-cognitive view of language learning. Apprenticing into new discourse communities is involved to learn a second or foreign language.

     Technology now is part of our live. People in Saudi Arabia know how to use technology perfectly. But the problem is they do not use technology in education. Saudi Arabia has witnessed the same ten developments in ICT. The use of technology for learning and teaching the language is limited in Saudi Arabia. I think that the ministry of education should work on introducing CALL in schools classrooms since computers play significant role in the learning process. The use of CALL in my opinion will increase the student motivation to learn language because it is link their interest in technology and learning. 

Terms to know

Blended learning is a combination of face-to-face interaction and online learning. It is an education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control.

E-learning refers to the use of electronic media and information and communication technologies in education. It means the use of technology to enable people to learn anytime and anywhere. E-Learning can include training, the delivery of just-in-time information and guidance from experts.

Online learning is a term describing learning that takes place online. It includes learning with assistance of the internet and personal computer.

 Learning Management System is a Web-based technology which provides interactive learning opportunities for students, and allows teachers to set up courses, generate reports, administer assessment and create portfolios. it allow students to access learning content from anywhere online via a web browser, and administrators to manage students, classes and courses.

Computer-assisted language learning is a form of computer-based learning which carries two important features: bidirectional learning and individualized learning. It originates from CAI where computers were first viewed as an aid for teachers. CALL is meant to supplement face-to-face language instruction, not replace it.

The difference between Online learning, E-learning and blended learning: Online learning means learning that takes place online and thus requires connection to the Internet and personal computer. While E-earning is the appropriate use of ICT to enhance the learning and can thus take place on in or out of the classroom. But blended learning is a mix of e-learning with traditional teaching and learning practices. Typically there is a combination of face-to-face interaction with online learning.