Interactive Language Learning on the Web

Reflection:

           The wealth of information available on the Web affords teachers and learners access to language learning resources like never before. Both of teachers and students can found materials for language learning. The Web-based language learning activities is quite attractive to both instructors and learners. Also, the teachers can design own interactive web based languages learning activities.

   

        You can find a lot of online exercise, lessons , games and quizzes. There are many advantages of creating own Web-Based Language Learning Activities.

1- Accessibility: Access to course information, and updates to Web pages and new assignments are immediately available to students.

2- Renewability: Once created, materials can be updated easily and often.

3- Adaptability: Web-based activities can easily be modified to support students at different proficiency levels or with special needs.

 

        For many teachers there are some difficulties in Creating Web-Based Activities:

1-They do not have the technical skill and knowledge to do so.

2- Although creating simple Web-based activities requires no more than basic HTML skills, many teachers lack even this.

3-The fact that most teachers do not have any time to devote to gaining these new skills.

4-The variability of students' access to computers.

 

     In addition, teaching on the Web contains many skills like:

1-Vocabulary practice.

2- Grammar lessons.

3-Comprehension exercises, reading and writing tasks.

4- Even pronunciation exercises can be put on the Web and made interactive in a variety of ways.

 

        Reading and Writing Skills With Discussion Boards and Weblogs. Discussing online boarder is a helpful way to hold class interactive. Dave's ESL Café provides many examples of this kind of activity (teachers can post a question or subject to start the discussion, and every response is displayed on the board.).Online discussion boards like those at Dave's ESL Café can be created easily using :

* Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script and HTML.

* Another way by using Weblog or blog. Students can set up their own free Web sites using these tools. They can create Weblogs quickly and easily using a basic Weblog host like Blogger or Pitas.

 

         Vocabulary and Grammar Exercises with JavaScript. Games and exercises designed to help students learn new vocabulary are easily put on the Web.

* French course, words or phrases are matched with definitions.

*David Kenosian, created a vocabulary matching exercise that provides correction and feedback.

       Both Fucaloro's and Kenosian's exercises were created with JavaScript. JavaScript was also used to create Tex's French Grammar, from the University of Texas at Austin, which provides extensive grammar explications, a verb tutor and conjugator, and grammar practice exercises. Any online form used for interactive activities such as quizzes and vocabulary and grammar exercises will require either a CGI script or JavaScript. JavaScript is an information collection and feedback tool that is used to make Web pages interactive. JavaScript Forum :

1-  provides many such tutorials and an assortment of free scripts to copy.

2-A free JavaScript package that enables users to create a variety of online, interactive activities is available at HotPotatoes Half Baked Software.

3- Also provides tutorials on how to use the software

 

       Listening Comprehension and Pronunciation Practice with RealAudio such as fill-in-the-gap exercises done while listening to audio, transfer nicely to the Web. John's ESL/EFL Resources has several listening comprehension exercises created with RealAudio and JavaScript.

 *Students first predict answers to questions about a subject by completing a multiple-choice JavaScript form.

*Then listen to an audio piece and check their work.

1-Audio clips: can be put into Web pages to provide exercises for listening comprehension, pronunciation practice, and vocabulary development.

2-Audio files: must be put into an appropriate format, such as MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), and then put on a Web page.

    

      Online Assessment with HTML Forms and CGI Script. Online exercises that use JavaScript are limited in their interactivity in that they can only provide a way for students to check their own answers. John's ESL/EFL Resources provides a good example of this type of assessment tool on the Web. Students take an ESL word-form quiz and submit their answers to the Web site. The answers go via email to the instructor, who can correct the work and send feedback directly to the student.