Website Evaluation #1

While searching specifically for a language learning blog, I came across BBC's Learning English website http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ . The purpose of this site is to encourage and further English language learning. One aspect of this site is a blog http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/communicate/blog/ and I will discuss it more in a moment. There were many more resources on this site and I will try to highlight some of these as well.

The blog section is actually two blogs. The first is written by an English student. A new student is chosen every month from different locations around the world. The blogger posts entries frequently and then other English students are encouraged to write in and respond to the entry. The one I reviewed was written by a young Brazilian women. She wrote about her home, her family and her profession as a dentist. At the end of the month, a new blogger is chosen. The second blog is written also in response to the first blog, but this one is written by an English teacher. She writes making suggestions on how the student may improve his English skills and his writing. She even makes assignments for the student to do.

One positive element about this blog is, as it says on the website, that this blog is different from a BBC broadcast because "it's a conversation between the author and the audience." Another positive is that it is a great way for students to learn about people from all over the world and have the opportunity to communicate with them. Also, this might be a good way to introduce students to the concept of blogging.

There are many other categories on the Learning English page. One that I liked particularly is entitled Quizzes. It had a number of different types of quizzes. One is called Quiznet. Each one has six questions, with multiple choice answers. For each incorrect response, the computer explains why the right answer is correct. The quiz changes daily. Other quizzes include Crossword (with a new topical puzzle weekly), Wordmaster (practices vocabulary in a game format) The Commentary Box (students listen to conversations of different World Cup matches, then take a quiz on what they heard), and Where to Next? (requires listening to audio directions, answering correctly about the location, all without running out of cash.)

Another category of the site is Exam Skills. It has pages for building vocabulary, writing exams, listening exams, speaking exams, and reading exams. This could be a very helpful section for students, like mine, who are not accustomed to standardized testing or college entrance exams.
Yet another category is "Grammar & Vocabulary".. This section includes Moving Words (with quotes from famous people), News English (teaches words being used in the news currently), Ask About English (answers questions that are sent in—the student can either read the answer or listen to them), How To (teaches phrases and expressions for particular situations), Keep Your English Up to Date (teaches new words that probably aren't even in the dictionary yet!), and Songlines (teaches vocabulary with the lyrics of a current song).

This website will be interesting to English learners of nearly all levels. There is something to interest everyone. With topics ranging from football to music to games to news, there is sure to be something of interest.

This site is useful for writing, listening and reading. The blog will target writing and reading. Feedback on the blog will be authentic as responses are given to posts that the students write. Assessment and Feedback is also given to the learner in the "Quizzes" section.

I found this entire site attractive and easy to navigate. Its strengths include the variety of topics and activities and the ability to beneficial to learners of all levels. One weakness might be just that it has so much material, the beginner might not know where to head. It might be helpful if it was separated between beginner, intermediate and advanced exercises.