Development and evaluation of an ESL Web site on learning-to-learn English

Abstract

The era of IT and globalization has seen the growth of the Internet as a potential tool for enhancing ESL teaching and learning. However, the success of this tool will depend on teachers' and learners' ability to examine and make sense of the information they access as well as to evaluate the merits of the information encountered. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it describes the development of a Malaysian-based ESL web site on learning-to-learn English known as E-Learn developed by the first author. Secondly, the paper presents findings of a research study designed to examine classroom learners' and teachers' reaction on E-Learn in terms of its i) reliability, ii) user-friendliness, iii) interactivity, iv) attractiveness, v) usefulness, vi) suitability and vi) content A total of 80 ESL learners and 15 ESL teachers from 2 schools in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia responded to a self-report questionnaire consisting of Likert items. A descriptive statistic using frequency count and mean score is used in the data analysis. The results show that, as a whole, both groups of respondents reacted positively towards the learning-to-learn English web site developed.