Mar 4 2007
Language Website Evaluations…..
As I am a ICT/ Business Teacher I have not linked where I am going to use this module with my teaching (maybe teaching T.E.F.L. Business Language Teaching or The French Department are crying out for some help related to use of ICT) However I have decided to do the web reviews based upon my one of my own instances of trying to learn Spanish (I was in Mexico three years and can only just get by.) So I have chosen a few Spanish learning websites plucked from a quick web-search that would enable me to review and improve my Spanish to come up with a list of items I consider important for a language learning website. This will not be a comprehensive list as we all know particular areas such as usability, credibility and accessibility but focus more on my thoughts…
The four websites:–
• Really Learn Spanish – A weblog type environment, with weekly podcasts talking through problems and Spanish lessons…
Positives – Simple, Podcast a week, Weblog like so always updated with new items at top, relevant items
Negatives – Limited in learning appeal, would only be used as one of many tools, relied heavily on podcast no other resources (no text of podcasts – accessibility problems), OOOPS! It’s dead since 2005 so obvious negative the continual updating led to the author deciding too much time to update.
• Spanish Talk – Part of a set of expansive tools for learning Spanish within the BBC Languages section…
Positives – Professional compact design, easy to use menu, resources even audio and video (which are great but quick loading) were backed up with text worksheets, Interactivity quizzes and more, the resources were very much linked to living or being in Spain, lots of examples of pronunciation, the website fully knows its audience…tourists visiting Spain, Activities are quick and easy and keep my attention, Links to a set of quizzes and quests as extensions (Great Fun but still tested me)…again real world activities…
Negatives – No cross browser support for Video, I was using Firefox – YUK, not much else….
• Mansion Spanish – A small free multimedia course, with three lessons…
Positives – Simple design, links to resource dictionary and chat (although chat was not working), pictures and audio although a little antiquated (and audio did not sound like someone from Spain.)
Negatives – Audio is embedded poorly so external player has to open…, Interactive activities give no feedback, so no reason to continue, the activities have no story, to lead you through just basic activities. Reminded of a school languages book placed onto the web…
• Study Spanish – An online comprehensive course for learning Spanish – with many exercises etc…
Positives – Comprehensive group of exercises, Continual Navigation bar on right although always changes options, many activities which involve repeating and practicing exercises – especially oral that made my girlfriend laugh (this was the only website that made me practice out-loud), interesting cultural stories and phrases…
Negatives – Lack of obvious progression, no feedback, lots of mentions of verbs and past participles which makes me shiver, lots of plain text pages, no adventure or quests even though activities relate at times to actual real activities – No real FUN….Homepage lacks up-to-‘dateyness’?
What I consider important for a language learning website…:-
1) Design – Uniqueness of design is important, and the ‘LearnSpanish’ website fell down on this with a constant but confusing navigation bar that always changed, too many options, small text, and a repeated background. The BBC website again showed a simple compact design, that was eye catching and unique. Audience must be understood for the design, and for students of a younger age the design must represent their interests
2) Aesthetics – Accessible but interesting colours and layout, but it should not be so plain as to be dull. Although I agree with those who design art galleries in that the art gallery architecture should not over power the content the art. Of the three the BBC website stood out, for use of colour, its compact nature, its functional aesthetics but never boring.
3) Interactivity – Two of the sites had interactive elements, quizzes. The BBC web-quest like quiz was by far the best where I took on a character had to go through a series of questions, received immediate feedback and then FAILED ïŒ, but would definitely go back for more – as it was fun…
4) Multimedia – Use of audio and video, needs to be carefully thought out both technically, and then in short bursts that are quick and easy to download – with maybe extension or other resources to download separately.
5) Short Sharp Activities – That build on skills that follow a path and are connected in some sort of way. Learning activities must have feedback. The oral exercises that ‘Learn-Spanish’ did were particularly useful and fun, and show why the internet is good as I independently made a fool of myself trying to say ‘equipaje.’
6) Ease of Use – Simple to use, transparent and simple navigation – of which the weblog seemed the best, I enjoyed the fact that the new thing to learn was there at the top of the page, and just click on the podcast link and off you go…
7) It’s FUN? – When you are learning something like a language, which many people including myself find very difficult a website must have a sense of humour, as much as a language teacher must have. I remember. Make me laugh, and then I will learn more…
8) Always Something New – Make me come back, even if it is a language website, homepage should be up to date relevant, have news related to content, rss feeds etc….
9) Blended –’Stoof’ to Take Away – Only the BBC website gave me clear worksheets to download, to practice and take away from the computer…
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