Peer Review

ESL Independent Study Lab

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: The ESL Independent Study Lab contains over 250 useful Internet resources for ESL/EFL learners. The site is divided into 11 main categories: listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, reading, writing, grammar, TOEFL, integrating the Internet online course, fun & games, resources for younger learners, and a content-rich collection. The resources in each category are graded according to their levels of difficulty (i.e. level 100 = beginner/advanced beginner, level 200 = intermediate, level 300 = upper intermediate, and level 400 = advanced).
Type of Material:: Materials available on each resource are written information, practice activities, quizzes, audio files, video files, games, and external links.
Recommended Uses:: Self study and class study
Technical Requirements:: Some resources need Shockwave, Flash, and/or Real Audio programs.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The site provides useful information and practices for ESL/EFL teachers and learners.
Target Student Population:: The site is good for ESL/FEL teachers and learners from beginner to advanced level.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: There does not require specific prerequisite knowledge or skills.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site provides good resources related to learning English.
Concerns:: There is a large number of dead links on each page (e.g. English Listening Lounge, Listening to English, Favorite Poem Project, The Crankophone, Interactive ESL Practice, Wedding Vocabulary, CNN Newsroom and World View for ESL, Computer Quizzes, Absolutely Whootle, Castaway, Easy Card Tricks, Monthly Activity Calendar, Tales of Wonder, Culture Lab UK, Educational Web Adventures, etc.). It would be nice if the author updated the resources.

Rating:
Strengths:: This site is a good resource for ESL/EFL teachers who are looking for teaching materials and for ESL/EFL learners who want to practice English. It is also a good resource for independent learners. They can choose the language skill that they need to practice and select resources according to their performance.
Concerns:: Because the site provides both very good and mediocre resources, learners should be selective.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site design and its background make the site clear and readable. Navigation and its description are straightforward and links are all a click away.
Concerns:: It would be good if the author provided links to useful resources such as open in new window because the back button in some resources (e.g. American Radio Works Documentaries, English-Trailers.com, English-Zone.com, and learning vocabulary can be fun) does not work. It would be nice if each page of the site could link to other language skills pages. As it is, learners need to go back to the homepage before continuing to other pages.

Other Issues and Comments:: The Return to ESL Independent study lab link at the bottom of the Reading Page 2 does not work right. It links back to the top of that page.
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