Introduction

Do you want to learn English in a fun way? If you really want to, especially vocabulary and grammar, you had better visit the Web site Englishday at http://www.englishday.com. We think the purpose of this site is to learn English more easily and also to have fun for students. When we saw the site for the first time, we felt that it was very simple site. Hence we had no burden. The site is made up of games. For example, there are vocabulary tests and grammar tests in the form of games. We think the title and purpose is attractive to students.
 

Description

This site is made up of six sections: English Crosswords, Word Searches, English Tests, English Word Soup, English Jokes, Word Hunter, Learn English Links, and Your English Teacher. Every section is made up of games.

1. English Crosswords

This section includes quiz games. There are some blanks vertically and horizontally. When you solved the questions, if you don't know the answer, you can asked for a hint, then the first letter will appear. This section is divided several parts, so you can choose the one you want. So, you can always test your vocabulary ability in this way.

2. Words Searches

In this section, there is a square. In the square, letters of the alphabet are scattered carelessly. Beside the square, there are parts of animals, the body, countries, crime, the family, fruit, furniture, irregular verbs, months, sports, and vegetable. It needs vision more than English vocabulary ability.

3. English Tests

This section has grammar tests. There are fifteen simple questions about adjectives, articles and prepositions of time each. If we put incorrect answer in the blank, then a message appears to try again. There are no comments about the questions. But every student can solve every question, because they are not difficult questions.

4. English Word Soup

This section includes puzzles. There are some words without order. So we have to find the order of words. For example, one has the disordered letters of the word "Alphabet."  Then, we think about it, and hit the correct letters on the keyboard. In this way, we study English vocabulary naturally.

5. English Jokes

There are some short riddles and jokes in this section. It is divided into two joke parts and two riddle parts. This is very easy and simple. First, you choose one, then read it, and next laugh, if you understand it.

6. Word Hunter

There are as many blanks as the numbers of letters in a word. To find the correct spelling, we have to guess the rest of the letters and make a word. Then we get one point. There are many kinds of words.

7. Learn English Links

This section introduces other useful Web site for ESL students. There are many useful things. For example, we can receive Headline News every day by e-mail, and if your family lives in the U.S.A., you can practice conversation through free phone calls and computer chats.

8. Your English Teacher

This section explains about Larry, who was born in South Africa and spent many years living and teaching in various countries. Finally, he determined that he would like to make a free Web site for fun. So, he made this site in 1999 for ESL students, and the site has developed and grown.
 

Conclusion

First of all, the main merit of this site is that it is not complex, but easy. Other sites are sometimes composed of various materials and sections, so there is a little burden to students. On the other hand, this site is very simple, only dealing with vocabulary and grammar. We can test our vocabulary and grammar ability again and again. On this site, the vocabulary and grammar tests are very easy. Hence we can understand those more easily and rapidly. Also this site offers e-mail service. If we have some problems with using this site, we can send e-mail to Larry. Then we are able to receive an answer.

Though this site has many merits, there are also some demerits. The title of this site is very suitable and interesting. But the first page of this site is not interesting enough to attract people. It is too monotonous. There are no interesting things; there are no graphics, and it is not colorful. Other sites put characters on their sites for visual effect. It is very attractive to young people. Englishday makes young people, especially middle and high school students, their target. So if they used some pretty characters and more beautiful colors, the site would be more attractive.

The Englishday site is a little boring, because the contents on this site are very similar. There is a difference only to solve the problems. It is, of course, useful to repeat practice, but if students do the same thing again and again without any changes, they lose interest in that site easily. So we suggest that the site add a level test. Now there is only one level of activity. If the activities were divided into several grades from low to high, students could select an activity according to their ability. We think it would be more effective to both beginners and more advanced students.

Next, we think more explanation of grammar and meaning of words is needed. When we are using the site, sometimes we face strange words. At that time we want to know the meaning of those words. But there is no explanation. Also in the grammar tests, there is no explanation of grammar. We think the site needs a little explanation briefly for people who use the programs.

Finally, there is a joke section. "Joke"  means funny story or riddle. But the jokes on this site are not funny. Surely, those stories are easy to understand, but we think they had better change to some fables with some pictures or illustrations instead of jokes. Fables that are familiar to us would be more interesting. Also, illustrations and some pictures would be more helpful for us to understand. We want the site to be more effective and interesting, because it is made for students. This site seems not to be completed yet. If these negative points were improved, Englishday would become a more useful site for students.