" The role of WeQuests in learning a foreign/second language?”

According to Dodge, web quest described as " an inquiry oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the web. Web Quests all have the same basic elements. These include an introduction, task, information resources, processes, learning advice, and evaluation. Web Quest is designed to focus on using information rather than looking for it losing  the time, and to enhance learners to be critical thinking . Web quest is useful and has its role in learning second or foreign language. Web Quests promote high-level thinking and problem-solving skills. Moreover, Web quests offer an organized approach to using the web. The role of Teacher is to teach her/his students and explain the lessons through web quest providing real resources, activities which enhance student's critical thinking & motivation. Students can share materials, activities and ideas that are not available in our standard text and are highly meaningful. For class environment there are new possibilities for combing real-world experiences with electronic resources such as new wireless networking options, including 3G (third generation digital phone networks) cellular and wide-area Wi-Fi networks. students are equipped with mobile computers as well as recording devices.

Web quests as  inquiry oriented , engaged students into activities, search for information and debate, discuss or defend a particular stance with classmates. Learners are given specific assignments related to the site they are visiting; these are typically group tasks.

Web quests foster cooperative learning through guided discovery, they do not generally provide a means for the individual practice of communication skills.

 for cooperation and collaboration :

-        Portable computing devices (hand-helds, PDA cell phones, Tablet PCs), combined with wireless networking, can connect participants in geographically diverse locations, offering as well the opportunity for cooperation and collaboration among schools and students in different countries.

* web quest is a great tool for promot students' learning language. i will use Webquests for my future EFL students.

Website Evaluation

"Activities for ESL students"

There are many   ESL/EFL websites founded on the internet which make the teachers confused about which sites they should recommend their students to use. Here we are evaluating   http://a4esl.org/ 

It is an organization website about learning English as second language which contains different resources for quizzes which are related to grammar, vocabulary and crosswords. Students can access all the main sub-menus of the site. Both the grammar quizzes and the vocabulary quizzes are sorted into three levels from easy to difficult. In addition, it has a section for bilingual quizzes.

 The purpose of this website is to help students study English as a second language on the website. It is done by many teachers throughout the world for ESL/EFL students in which different levels of quizzes are offered using various formats and for many languages. New quizzes and activities are added regularly. Moreover, all materials that are of immediate practical use to ESL/EFL teachers who are currently teaching.

The home page colors give relaxation for the eyes. However, it should have any creative multimedia such as graphics, images and recorded sounds which the site lacks of; on the other hand, there are JavaScript and flash versions which can the learner use it. There is no advertising, no Minimal HTML, No Nonsense. [a4esl.org] should work even if your browser is not compliant with the newest web standards. The website has good navigation which allows students to move easily through pages. Moreover, visited and unvisited links do not detract from the content. The fonts are black and blue which makes it easier to differentiate between the link and the title.  Finally, the site doesn't provide inquires and help section which could be benefit for the learners and there is no search section to save the learner’s time when looking for any activity.

        As an English Language teachers, we would benefit from the knowledge about website evaluation by apply it within our teaching and evaluate each and every site before asking our students to go for.