Computer-Assisted Language Learning: Evaluating English Second Language Games Plus - Case Study Example

Evaluation Report Name Institution Date Evaluation Report Introduction With the technological advances in the Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) various innovative systems have come up within the classroom setting. The advancement in technology therefore elevates adaptability and flexibility of the computer materials within the classroom setting among the ESL students and teachers. The use of technology has therefore contributed to great lengths in terms of enhancing second language learning among students within the classroom setting. Teachers are further encouraged to familiarize with the current technologies in the learning process for easier integration of the learning materials through the use of technological advances. Various methods are being integrated in the English learning process. These methods therefore need to be evaluated in terms of the technology used so as to ensure the quality of the material used in the process of learning. Hence various aspects need to be fully integrated in the use of technology in language learning. The essay there will engage in the process of evaluating ESL Games Plus (http://www.eslgamesplus.com/ in terms of various aspects and make conclusions in relation to the advances integration in the language learning process (Bax, 2011). Description The ESL games plus website offers a variety of interactive online games that is engaged in the process of learning and teaching English as a second language perspective. The learning games within the websites are generally appropriate for instructing English Second Language (ESL) among kids and teenagers. The activities within the games involve the process of teaching and practicing English grammar, listening, pronunciation skills, sentences and vocabularies. The website enhance the process of learning and teaching English as a second language for the fact that it involves an interactive process within the classroom setting that enables the learners to engage in various aspects of the language that are essential in the learning process. Through the process of engaging in the fun educational games students engage in the process of learning English vocabularies, listening, phonics and pronunciations. The site is therefore characterized by various elements that are important in the learning process such as ESL memory games, word recognition games, interactive board games, sentence games, ESL classroom games, concentration games, matching games among other fun educational games that are essential in the process of ESL learning and teaching (Blake, 2011). Classroom games enable the English lessons within the classroom setting to be interactive in its process. Through the process of interactive in the classroom games the learners engage in the interactive process within the classroom setting. With the use of these games in the process of teaching and learning the activities within the classroom setting are filled with a lot of fun and interaction among the learner that enhance the process of language learning. The classroom games are divided into different levels of learning of the learners. There is classroom games for beginners and elementary ESL and classroom games to be engaged in intermediate and advanced ESL learners within the classroom setting (Garrett, 2009). In addition the site features memory types of games that are considered as essential in English language learning. Hence it involves the best ESL concentration games that assist leaners in mastery skills of the English vocabulary and grammar components. The vocabulary within the memory games enhances the development of excellent word recognition, reading and listening skills. The interactive game elements in the memory games are therefore essential in enhancing concentration in terms of English vocabulary and grammar components. Through the use of this type of game the learner’s ability in terms of English vocabulary and grammar is enhanced. Vocabulary and grammar are essential aspects within the learning process of English language. The memory game is key in enhancing the ability of learners to acquire the skills of vocabulary and grammar in language learning process (Hubbard, 2013). Evaluation The website enhances the process of learning within the classroom setting. The use of games makes the learning process fun and the concentration of the learners is further enhanced through the use of educational types of games. As a result of the use of educational games the learning process becomes interactive between the students and the teachers. Through the use of fun educational games the students can easily comprehend the elements that are essential in the language learning process. Learners can therefore engage in fun through the use of the games and its activities while at the same time engage in the learning process. Hence the use of the site while incorporating various fun educational games presents both the teachers and the learners with a definitive fun filled English learning experience. In addition the use of games assists the learners in practicing of grammar, vocabulary and structuring of sentences in a classroom setting in a fun filled manner. The incorporation of fun educational games is also an important aspect as it assists young learners in the process of learning English as a second language within the classroom setting (Bax, 2011) The evaluation of the site is therefore in terms of the effectiveness of the use of the site in language learning and teaching. The site has proven to engage the learners interactively in the process of learning. Through the use of fun filed educational games the leaners are able to learn while at the same time having fun within a classroom setting. With the advancement in technology and the use of games within an interactive language learning process the learners are able to grasp various aspects of the language more easily. The elements of language learning process are further simplified through the use of games within the classroom setting. In this sense the learning process of the English language is filled with fun through the games the assist the learners to easily comprehend the various aspects and elements of the language. The use of games in English language learning provides an interactive platform that assists the learners with various skills that are essential in the English language learning process (Blake, 2011). Despite the numerous achievements of the use of games in English learning process there are certain challenges faced by both teachers and students in the language learning process. The use of games in language learning process is technology based and therefore it is important to integrate the application of technology in the language learning process. In his case the utilization of games in the classroom context of English learning language cannot be achieved without the incorporation of technology. Hence the teachers and the learners need to acquire the necessary knowledge in the application and use of the online games and sites in the process of English language learning. Technology forms an important basis in the use and application of games and other online games material in the English language learning process (Hampel & Pleines 2013) Pedagogical aspects Within the context of English language learning there various pedagogical aspects that need to be put into consideration. Hence within the learning environment there are various systematic processes that involves various forms of activities that has the main objective of generating solutions to various instructional problems. Pedagogy in language learning involves the improvement of the intercultural communicative processes that allows for competence in the language to be achieved by the learners. In relation to the site and the use of games in the English learning process fluency of the language is acquired through the application of the skills that are offered by various games within the site. Therefore it is through the use of the games within the classroom contest that learners are able to be engaged in the interactive experiences that enhance interpersonal skills in the language learning process. Online games are engaged in promoting fluency among learners for the fact that through the interaction process of learners meanings are generated through the use of online games. The utilization of online games is an important aspect in the interaction process within a classroom setting. This enables the learners to actively interact in form of educational games that promotes educational fun and English language learning process (MacDonald, 2011). The site also provides the learners with a platform to and ability to appreciate and understand others in the context of language learning. The games on the site assist the learners to actively interact with each other within the classroom setting. This facilitates the learners to understand and appreciate each other through the process of interaction in the various games that is presented on the online site. The use of the online games also enables the learners to relate positively with others through the utilization of the target language. Learners also exhibit the capability and constructive attitudes through actively participating and acquisition of the skills of the games playing and English language learning process (Hubbard, 2013). Through the emergence of the games online site software it is essential to develop both the concepts and the ideas of the software. This involves the prioritization of the need for the development of the software within the context of English language learning. Hence there is need to evaluate the emerging software (games online site/software) in order to assess whether the software will assist in the enhancement of teaching quality, improve the process of productivity in teaching and enable various resources and materials to be saved in terms of finances. It is therefore important to gauge whether the courseware or the software will be able to improve the quality of teaching through developing various forms of pedagogical aspects as compared to the existing methods that are engaged in the process of English language learning process (Blake, 2011). Technical Aspects The technical aspects in language learning process involve various forms of technicalities in the language learning process. The technicalities in language involve the use of software in the process of language learning. The software engaged in the process of English language learning in this case is the use of online games site. Hence for this site to be regarded as useful or important in language learning there are various technical aspects that needs to be put into consideration. Any software that is engaged in language learning process must enhance the process of language learning. The technical aspects therefore involve the use of courseware and software in the utilization of the online games in a classroom setting. The technical aspects form an important element for the fact that they should be evaluated in order to assess the suitability of the software and courseware in the English language learning process. Therefore there is need to ensure that the use of online games in the process of learning will be able to meet the goals of attaining language proficiency and literacy. The online games should be developed in a manner that will ensure that they are easily to be comprehended by the students and learners in terms of the technicalities of the language that will be used in the online games site (Son, 2007). In order to online games to be utilized in the language learning process certain forms of resources must be put into place for the purpose of utilization of games in language learning. The resources that is important in in the use of games in the language learning process. The computer or any other form of technology that involves the utilization of the online games in the process of language learning is an important and fundamental aspect in language learning. The technical aspects therefore involve the use of technology in the process of accessing the online games to be utilized in language learning process. Technical aspects in this sense engage the practical aspect of the utilization of the online games in the process of English language learning process. The technical elements therefore evaluate the technology that is require in order to facilitate the language learning process through the use of online games sites. These sites must therefore be evaluated such that the online games are able to meet the desired results in the language learning process. In addition the technical aspects involves the training of the instructors in the use and implementation of the online games in the process of teaching and the acquisition of various language skills and knowledge (Hampel & Pleines 2013) Integration The integration of technology in the process of language learning is an important aspect. Thus the process of language learning is promoted through access to technology. Within the use of online games site it is important for both teachers and students to integrate the aspect of technology into the education curriculum. It is therefore important to develop a strategy on how to integrate the aspects of technology within the language learning system. Within the incorporation of the use of online games there should be integration of the aspects of the educational learning in the language learning process. The integration of technology therefore involves various aspects such as the teacher, the leaner and the too that is being used in the process of language learning which forms the utilization of online games site (Stanley, 2013). In this process of learning the online games site forms an important component in the language learning process. This is due to the fact that the use of online games forms the core component in the language learning process. Hence within the classroom setting there is the interaction process between the learner, teacher, the site with the use of online games site in the language learning procedure. The role of an instructor in the use of online game site is to provide guidance to the students or act as a facilitator in the language learning process. Teachers in the process of engaging the students in the language learning process through the use of online games may also act as developers of the language software through which the games for education purposes are developed. The online games play diverse roles in language instruction. Therefore within the scope of online games software play a role of instructional purpose known as courseware. The use of courseware in the online games involves computer or online founded lesson materials. Teachers within the use of online games should have the ability to utilize courseware. Integration of the online games as a useful software in the language learning process is an important aspect. Therefore there is need for integration in terms of the online games as software engaged in the learning process together with the learners and the teacher so as to fully utilize the online games in the process of language learning (Bax, 2011). Integration of the various elements within language learning process is essential. Various aspects such as the integration of online games into the classroom setting forms an important component. Therefore there is need to integrate the aspects of the use of online games within the classroom setting to fit into the curriculum of educational process in language learning process. The integration of the technological aspects of the online games needs to be integrated into the educational system for the purpose of involving the leaners and teachers in the English language learning. The online games involve the integration of various aspects in the use of games. For example the integration of various elements such as the use of vocabulary and grammar is essential in the language learning process. The ESL online games present an interactive process of learning language as a second language. The online games software involves various activities for teaching and practicing of English as a second language (Son, 2007). Conclusion The use of technology in the language learning process involves an important aspect in ESL. The use of online games is essential in English learning process through the incorporation of various elements in the process of learning. The use of online games assists the learners to learn within the classroom setting while engaging in fun. The online games therefore enable leaners to engage in the utilization of skills through the use of online games. Hence learners are able to engage in grammar, sentences, listening and pronunciation skills that are essential in language learning process. Within the process of language learning there are certain aspects that need to be integrated so as to utilize the use of online games. The main tool in the English language learning involves the use of software that is integrated in the games software. The use of games therefore forms an interactive proves whereby learners engage in fun while at the same time utilize games in the process of English learning process. The major setback of the integration of the use of online games in the process of English language learning involves the fact that the learners may not be in a position to differentiate between fun and educational learning since there is the use of fun in the games for the purposes of attaining the educational knowledge and proficiency in English language learning. References Bax, S. (2011). Normalisation revisited: the effective use of technology in language education. International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching, 1 (2), 1- 15. Blake, R. J. (2011). Current trends in online language learning. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 31, 19-35. Garrett, N. (2009). Computer-assisted language learning trends and issues revisited: integrating innovation. The Modern Language Journal, 93 (Winter), 719-740. Hubbard, P. (2013). Making a case for learner training in technology enhanced language learning environments. CALICO Journal, 30 (2), 163-178. Hampel, R., & Pleines, C. (2013). Fostering student interaction and engagement in a virtual learning environment: an investigation into activity design and implementation. CALICO Journal, 30 (3), 342-370. MacDonald, L. (2011). The virtual language lab: virtually painless simply real. The IALLT Journal for Language Learning Technologies, 41 (1), 137-160 Son, J. (2007). Learner experiences in web-based language learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 20 (1), 21-36. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. Stanley, G. (2013). Language learning with technology: ideas for integrating technology in the classroom (pp. 9-23). Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press. Read More