The role of WebQuests in learning a foreign/second language?

WebQuests have changed the way students learn a foreign language in many ways. It has improved the language learning experience, by allowing students to communicate and interact in new ways (inquiry based learning). This is very beneficial for the learner, as well as the teacher.

One of the biggest changes brought by WebQuests is that the learning doesn't take place in a classroom anymore, it takes place online. Students can log in on their WebQuests and watch the lectures and complete the tasks posted by the teacher. The teacher designs the tasks and simply uploads them on WebQuest for the students to view on their own time, since it is available 24/7. The assignments are project-based, so the students have to work towards the completion of the project. The students have access to many resources online and can work together and share ideas. They follow inquiry based and collaborative learning. The role of the teacher is not as much as in normal classes, as they teacher can upload everything at one time and the students can complete the project by the given deadline. There is no requirement for the teacher to monitor the students all the time, as in a regular class setting.  

Another positive thing about WebQuests is that cooperative/collaborative learning can take place by other students who have traveled and explored another country’s culture. They can share videos and teach others about the culture, this will help in language learning. Since the learning is taking place online, interaction with people in other countries is also possible.  This gives the student a better understanding of the language, along with the culture of the country they are studying. It also makes them critical thinkers.

In the Saudi EFL context, I would definitely use WebQuests because many Saudi students do not get the opportunities to interact and see the culture of other people. Watching videos of how people in English speaking countries interact with each other on a daily basis, their body language etc. is will teach the students not only the English language but also the English culture. This will help the students when they move abroad and also will make them more confident students.

Also WebQuests will make things easier for the teachers, because this allows the students to be more independent from the teacher and it encourages group work.

Web Site Evaluation

  There are a huge numbers of website that related to teaching and learning English as a second and foreign language. One of this website is URL: (http://a4esl.org/). It is a website to help students to learn (EFL) and (ESL). It contents many activities, quizzes and other exercisers with different level. In addition it includes multilingual language such as Arabic, English, Chinese and Dutch to facilitate to the learners around the world to access to the website.   

      The website content clear purpose and theme that is give Quizzes, tests, exercises and puzzles to help learners to learn English as (ESL) and (EFL). All the information provided to the student on the website is accurate and all requirements of the assignment have been met. The website has attractive layout that attractive and usable. The elements organize the make the use of website easy. Also, it contents multilingual languages in a field of quizzes, vocabulary and grammar with different levels for each. The link content is high quality and credible site. In addition, the background of the website consistent across pages and does not readability. It content full of color that can be attract the reader but that can be make difficult to some people who have some problems  in his/her eyes. The font style and size are good and easy to read and appropriately for heading and text. The website didn’t content any graphic, images and sound and that negative thing in the website because picture and sound play the important role in attractive the students to use the website. For examples, in the picture site the students can learn vocabulary when match the word with the correct images, also, the learners can learn throughout the sound by listening to the certain conversation or words. However, in the website there is no error in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft.

       Finally from our point of view, the website is good but need some improve. So we suggest that the website need to add:

1- Advertisement and pictures or animations.

2- Feedback.

3- Sound for (Listening skills).