Duolingo

Write Away Experience

It's my first time to try this writing-assisted tool, but I find it quite helpful. The best thing that I notice is the tool's predicted assisting function; once you type one particular word, the assisting tool shall list out numerous possible collocated words that match with it. From my own perspective, this tool will helps users practice, hone and advance their English writing skills.

Text to Speech

Woebot

ALICE CHAT BOT

Jcloze

Experience of Computer-assisted Language Learning

I have just found out that I have been using the CALL materials all the time without knowing that they are CALL materials. Online dictionaries, news websites, and online multimedia tools are what I find very useful for me to improve my English learning because they are easy to access and to be used. However, things were not that convenient when I was a junior and senior high schooler in Vietnam. Back in the early 2000s, computers were rarely seen in my remote hometown, and not to mention the internet connection service (which I remember that it was started to be installed and later commonly used in 2008). At that time, the studying of English relied on reference books and raw documents, which was a disadvantage in terms of learning materials and studying time.

When I was in 7th grade, I was chosen along with a few students to form a representative team for an English competition. We had to prepare months before the competition. Our English teacher gave each of us a pile of exercise documents which was about identifying and determining the correct stressed syllable of each word given (the assignment was very tough and tiring). I had to look up every page of a small, old and worn dictionary to check every single English word. it was such a time-consuming and tiring exercise I have ever did, and yet, I didn't finish all of it by the time of the deadline, even though I tried all my best. If I had had a computer connected with the internet at that time, I would have finished the exercise even before the deadline without wasting too much time on it.

Now, I can check any English word in an online dictionary and it is free of charge. What's more, I often practice my English listening skills through Youtube and improve reading skills on news and magazine websites.

news summary and response

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200512-say-hello-to-the-worlds-new-greetings

Summary.

Bella-Daily Steele and Ruth Terry wrote an article titled "Say hello to the world's new greetings," published on BBC news website on 13th May 2020. The article was about the temporary replacement of physical greetings in many countries including China, New Zealand, France, Tanzania, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Afghanistan because of the COVID - 19 outbreak. From China to Afghanistan, handshakings, hugging, Hongi (New Zealander's traditional greeting of nose and forehead pressing together,) cheek kissing, head touching, hand clasping and kissing, and nose kissing have been replaced by non-physical greetings respectively.

Response.

There are a few things that I learn after finish reading the article. The first one is the variation of greetings in many cultures all over the world before the coronavirus epidemic, for each culture has its own distinctive characteristics that differ from one another. Secondly, a nation's traditions and customs can be changed or replaced with or without the consensus of its citizens. By witnessing the replacement of the greetings method in many countries, I realize that when people in a country change, their cultures, traditions, and customs change too. Also, the way that people in these countries react to and accept the changes varies. The Wuhan Shake in China was spontaneously invented by the people living among the epicenter to show solidarity and optimism. Whereas the indigenous tribes in New Zealand like the Maori and Kiwi actively change their traditional greeting, the French reluctantly have to avoid using bias - cheek kissing when they want to greet each other. Tanzanian anthropologist Alexander Mwijage working at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences expresses his concern that social ties between communities can be deteriorated due to the social distancing and new greeting of "foot shake." It is unsure whether what Alexander Mwijage worries about is true or not, but the Turks are surely know how to adapt to the situation by using the eyvallah - one hand is put at heart and bow slightly -  a centuries-old greeting gesture used by the Ottomans. The Turks think that using the eyvallah is the right way to show and preserve their values during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Books to read at Gutenberg

The first book that I choose to read is Ulysses by James Joyce. I've heard of the book and its reputation for a while, but I've never had a chance to read it. So, out of curiosity, I want to read it. 
I've picked "The War of the World" by H.G. Wells as the second book to read. As a fan of science-fiction novels, I find the novel is very tempting and intriguing.

Review of Cool English website

Cool English is Taiwan-based and nonprofit teaching and learning English website. It provides Taiwanese students from elementary to senior high school a myriad of English-learning materials.

The site consists of 4 sections: Elementary, Junior High, Senior High, and Vocational school.
Each section provides learners a variety of materials with different categories: listening, oral, reading, translating practice.

In the listening practice category, students can practice their listening skills by watching movie clips and animations in both English and Chinese version. Also, commonly used idioms or expressions are integrated into the materials' contents to provide students more practical English phrases. After finish watching the video clips, students may take a quiz to recheck what they have learned.

It is as same as in the oral practice that English learners can practice their pronunciations, tones through the video guides. Besides, students can choose their favorite video genres to practice.

The reading materials are less than I expect. I wish there were more reading samples.

From the vocabulary section, I find the collocation part is very useful. However, I notice that there are only over 400 words in total. I hope that the website's administration shall supplement more collocation words in the future.

Also, English learners can study more English's basic grammars through the "Grammar Training Department". what's more, students may take the English test provided by the website to self evaluate their English level.

Last but not least, I love the "Learn English with Songs" game. I think this is the most fun and addictive way to learn English. I have actually played a dozen of them.