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This paper reports on the use of ICT in support of language learning that utilizes one of the web-based or online material called English Grammar Online (EGO). Some descriptions aim to support teachers for enriching experiences of using the internet in teaching English grammar and also to provide students with a lot of educated and friendly activities concerning the features included in EGO. Thus, the author underlines two essential points which consist of an overview of the internet, web based learning and some series of insights regarding the features of EGO to be applied in language teaching particularly at Grammar activity in educational context. Finally, the content of the paper mainly inform both students and teachers to integrate technology in the field of language education.
Keywords: English Grammar Online (EGO), friendly tool, grammar, vocabulary
INTRODUCTION
Internet has a positive impact on both learner and teacher (Noni, 2010). Over few decades, educators around the world have been using the Internet to facilitate teaching and to enhance students learning. The benefits of web access as one of the internet services to encourage language learning are also well documented. Greenhow, Robelia, and Hughes (2014) found that the web provides broaden conceptualization of classroom in language learning. The students need to engage actively to the learning where they have more choices about how and where to spend their time and not just merely listening to a rigid instruction in a mainstream classroom. The web therefore provides almost everything that the students need. The existence of web at last assist teacher and provide students efficient learning through a virtual library which contains amount of many informations that the students can access (Bell, 1998; Greenhow et al., 2014; Murray & McPherson, 2004; Son, 2005).
Given the above mentioned benefits that the web has afforded to language learning, more specific approach for language learning have been created due to using the web. Shih (2010) found that the blended-model of learning by using video-based blogs contribute to the ability of students public speaking in ESL context. Another aspect in language components and also considered as the most complex subject such as grammar is also taken into account, Mohamad (2009) claimed that Internet-based grammar instruction showed effective result than conventional pen and board instruction. A multimedia courseware (e.g ELLIS Middle Mastery) in teaching grammar also have been researched (Nutta, 1998), the use of computer-based instruction performed bettwer than traditional directed instruction. Technology can equip students to independently organize their learning process. So, “instead of being passive recipients of information, students using technology become active users (Moeller & Reitzes, 2011).” It is obvious that the use of technology and many internet services to support language learning cannot be doubt as the innovative way from time to time in this globalization era.
With regard to the teaching grammar, the author introduces the website called English Grammar Online (EGO). EGO provides features as well as the materials that allow students to learn grammar, and at the same time practicing wiriting and vocabulary. The material can be freely accessed through online and no need to install any software in that case. The features also allow the students to choose and work on web-based exercises with their own or with the help of teachers. All the menus provided with systematic funtions and ease of use. The explanations and the examples, which students can always deal to even without broad explanation from the teacher. Furthermore this website is not merely focussed on serious learning but tend to attract students and as a friendly tool to learn English. Thus, the author called EGO as Amigo (friend in Spanish) particularly in learning English grammar.
EGO can be a very good resource of teaching English grammar if handled in appropriate way. By familiarizing students with innovative learning or using web page, they are motivated to learn English. The teacher are also expected to avoid the paradigm that grammar is a difficult subject for the students, moreover by using EGO website the obstacle to some extent will be solved. As Brown (1994) suggested that the teacher are hoped to create the optimal conditions for teaching of grammar. Interesting materials, interactive and gaming activities integrated into one website called EGO to bridge the gap of the latter case. The government also has facilitated students with computer and internet connection in many schools. Finally there may be no serious constraints that potentially hinder students to use technology and internet services. However the evaluation of the material need to be main concern since not all of the content of the website can be adapted as the instructional material.
It has to be acknowledged that teachers and students are positively affected by the use of Internet, in response to this, the paper briefly discusses an overview of Internet in language teaching especially in grammar and outlining the use of web site “English Grammar Online” for the students using them in EFL classroom context.
DISCUSSION
An Overview of Internet, Web Access and Web-Based Learning
The Internet, and web access for the contexts of learning have been transformed and gain popularity in recent years. Internet connectivity in schools has become increasingly pervasive. Before having any further exploration into the use of internet, it is woth noting that the internet closely related to world wide web but it is not synonymously used. The Internet is network of networks that is, a worldwide group of interconnected networks which allows people and computers to communicate and share resources (Intraprawat, 1999, p. 33) where the web is the system used to access and view information. The information in the website can be accessed through the wire which we call here as the internet. Once we connect to the internet, thousand of millions of information in the website we can freely access including text, audio, video, graphics and so fort.
The students can found the information on the web, they may identify words or concepts and use web directories to find items based on a given topic. And as they more agile to select the appropriate information, this will evoke the integration of their critical literacy skills, such as skimming, scanning, discrimating and categorizing (Murray & McPherson, 2004). The current term of people use and search the information in the internet is surfing, because they will deal with a world of infinity texts and also informations. And to make them all organized, the internet companies has provided search engines such as Google and Yahoo. This two well-established search engine are now the most popular. Nonetheless in the future, no one can predict that these will feature will be vanished and replaced with more sophisticated search engine.
Web based learning that is popularly known as web-based education refers to the application of web technology in education (Rusman, 2016). In this case, any teaching and learning activities and make use of Internet technology to facilitate the learning process of the students can be categorized as web-based education. This facility is used to facilitate whoever, wherever, and whenever the person is to be able to learn more fun, easier and cheaper by using Internet. The students can access to the learning sources anytime and anywhere, more open, more comfortable, more fun, faster and without any limits.
Many parties have tried to use web technology unwisely. They only use this media to download the materials needed as a reading task or to submit chapter reports or any other assignments via Internet without any further actions. If the technology is only used by this level, of course the learning process will not be optimum. The expected learning process in class via web is quite hard to manage compared to a common regular class. As monitoring the learning process using web involves many aspects such as special instructional designs that are able to invite the students to participate actively and willingly in any learning activities without the existence of his or her lecturers near them.
English Grammar Online (EGO)
There are a number of reasons why using the Internet is an essential way to teach and learn grammar. As the author emphasized previously that Internet provides everything for both teachers and students. The Internet has plenty of websites, many of which offer grammar activities that are presented in inventive and refreshing ways. A common feature of these activities is their requirement of students to explore and learn through drill and answering the questions. As an example, the author introduce one of the multifunction website called “English Grammar Online” for learning Grammar.
The origins of the website come by giving private class through online in April 2000. A year later, the exercises in the website were used approximately 20 visitors per day during that year. Some of them found the sites via search engines. And this encouraged the owner Mario Müller (Programmer), Heike Pahlow (Translator; German/English/Spanish) & Stefanie Czapla (Illustrator) to offer more exercises on the internet. And in August 2001 they started https://www.ego4u.com. Now the features are kept growing and there are about 45,000 users per day which several of them are regular visitors.
Features of EGO
EGO contains of seven broad menu, consisted of “Cram Up”, “Read On”, “Business”, “Chill Out”, “Take On”, and “Teach” In. Each of them designed to represent the sub menu below them.
Cram Up
Cram Up is the primary menu which contains of many explanation as well as the test. This is a kind of cramp course corner for students who need to learn general English efficiently without classifying their level. It consists of Grammar, Writing Vocabulary, Tests, Study Tips, and Daily English. In Grammar section, we will be shown by six categories involving an Overview of all English tenses, English Tenses Active, Confusing Tenses, Conditional Subjunctive, i-Pad-Apps, All other Grammar Topics. In the Writing section, the students can choose on several options whom they prefers to learn, there are four categories that students can click on it. Punctuation, Essays & presentation, Businesss English or Other Topics. In Vocabulary menu, the students will deal with four categories, numbers (explanation + exercises) Communication Situations, Easily Confused Words and Common Phrases. In Test section, here the students are able to test themselves by clicking on the level that the students prefer to choose, from level 1-3 on tenses test and level 1-4 on other english test. The students need to answer the questions by giving click on appropriate answer and input their answer through typing on their keyboard. There are five questions for each type. There also sub menu called Daily English, here the students may find explanation and triks to successfully learn English Grammar.
Read On
In this menu, there are a a lot of literature provided with simple yet interesting reading materials. There are three menus that are countries, animal and literatures. In Countries there are many facts on sights, history, culture and people from English speaking countries. Animals contains of description and fact about particular animals. And the last one is literature which provides english novel
Business
This menu is commonly provided for everyone who wanty to learn english for specific purpose particularly in business area. It includes general information and conversation in business context including the way of writing resume or curriculum vitae. There are also standard grammar for students in relation to business English. And the last features in this menu is Business tips, which provides several helpful tips and info about marketing, careers, negotiation, costumer service and shopping
Chill out
This menu is probably the most interesting activities for students who desire to learn English in fun way. It inspires the author to give the title of this paper as well as judge the web as a friendly medium. The students may take a rest for a while and try this feature in their leissure time, because learning grammar is sometimes frustrating. Several gaming activities are designed in different way so the students will find this features as an awesome one. This feature is mainly about game, including familiar games (e.g board games, doublets and hangman), riddles, English quizzes (e.g Shoppig Quizzes, Australian quizzes ect.), quriosities (xoxktailsm, SMS English and GOTHI) and personality quizzes like love test.
One of the activity called Board Game, it is a vocabulary game where the students can improve their English the fun way. All the students need is a ‘board’ figures, cards which are already provided in PDF (downloadable), a die, and a number of friends. The students as players only put the board on the table. Place the cards on the foto with the ego4u logo and put the figures on the START field. Every players chooses a figure and then the students can start. The first player casts the die and tries to translate the vocabulary/ phrase on the top card. Is the translation correct, the player may move forward by the number cast; is the translation wrong, the player must move back by that number (or remain on START). Then it’s the next player’s turn. The winner is who first arrives on the FINISH field.
CONCLUSION
This author comes to conclusion that the use of internet become a need in English language learning. Several websites are likely to design more innovative material for language learning. One of them is English Grammar Online (EGO) website. EGO is a necessary in helping students particularly when they are learning about English grammar. Many features are provided in the website not only to enhance the students grammar skills, but also their writing skills, vocabulary buldings, reading comprehension, basic conversation and evoking their English learning enthusiasm by engaging activities like game. It is obvious that the websites offer many facilities that the students want, they just need to search the information cleverly and wisely. Furthermore every activities in the internet should be tutored by teacher and guide the students to follow the lesson and fulfill the learning objectives.
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