http://www.livemocha.com
It is designed for all language learners of English and numerous other languages of the world. I use this website to study Arabic, French and Turkish. The website provides reading, writing, spelling and grammar skills activities, as well as speaking activities and pronunciation. You can make friends from across the world and they can help you learn their native language as you help them learn yours.
Does the website offer anything extra that cannot be done in more traditional ways, e.g. with pencil and paper or chalk and talks?
Yes, it offers a voice recording section where learners can recite certain phrases or vocabulary words or respond to dialogue. Native speakers of that language then evaluate the student. It offers a chat room where you can talk with native speakers and gain fluency, you can also see them if they choose to open their webcams!
Do you intend to use the website for whole-class teaching, e.g. using a computer plus projector and wall screen/interactive whiteboard?
Yes, it could be done in this way. For example, I could showcase one of the pronunciation activities on the projector and have students practice pronunciation with their partners. Or I could have a native speaker willing to volunteer his/her help to talk about life in their country. Students could listen to a native speaker and learn intonation and tone.
Do you intend to use the website in a computer lab, i.e. where each learner works at an individual computer?
Yes, this could be possible and not too bad of an idea if I want students to practice speaking English with native speakers. They could spend time getting to know people from New Zealand, Australia or America and spend at least 15 minutes a week chatting in English with the native speaker.
Do you intend to integrate the website into your teaching?
Yes, as stated earlier, it could be used in the classroom especially for authentic needs (i.e. listening to a native speaker).
Website Evaluation Form
1. Does the site contain what you exptected, e.g. as indicated in its title or URL? No. URL seems like a coffee website
2. How easy is it to navigate the site? It is fairly easy. It seems to be user friendly, but students would need an introduction to the website before using it.
3. Does the site contain an appropriate mix of text, images, sound and video? Yes, there are plenty of images--each person on the website can create a profile and add pictures of themselves as well as pictures of their home countries. Sound is available in the activities, for example in the dialogue activity where learners listen to conversations, expressions and vocabulary in the second language. There is not much video provided.
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