Elllo: An ELT Website

Hello again, today I will be introducing you with an ELT based website which is apparently asked by our course instructor that we find a website about ELT and evaluate it in according to the form she has provided. A long boring entry that was, wasn't it? All the websites I have looked into, I crossed with this site which looked quite simple and basic in terms of the aim of helping to students or teachers. It's basically a master key to students want to open all the doors to listening and reading, grammar and vocabulary. It provides hundreds of thousands of exercises, reading and listening passages, and materials to both students and teachers. However, my personal idea is that students would be benefiting more with the help of teachers' guidance and help. Let's have a wider look at what this website is all about..

ELLLO: English Language Listening Library Online

Who is the author of the website?

Well, the author is, Todd Beuckens, a qualified and over 20 years experienced teacher who is
currently in Japan and has worked in many countries.

What is the content and the purpose of the website? Who is the audience?

There are 2 major categories which are audio and video contents. Visual contents are consisting of one minute videos like 1500 videos which are covered by a range of topics from the favourite food to most desired gifts or special skills. Speakers in the video discusses the various matters which are related to any of the topics we come across in our lives. As the participants to these videos are mostly native speakers of English it's quite appealing to learners.

As for the audio contents, there are vocabulary tasks, quizzes about the topic are given as they are in video contents. The writing scripts of the speeches are also given at the same time for students to keep up the conversation.

There is a section which is sort of a game like there is a story ongoing at the back and there are options given to choose which one is mentioned in the text. There are of course further tasks like quizzes, vocabulary challenges(not that challenging). 

What I like the most was the animated stories and news cast. they were quite well prepared and how they integrated the idioms and phrasal verbs into those animations must be quite a bit of work. 

There are printable worksheets as well for later use.

The stories and the exercises can be found in all levels and include one visual or audial  material with them.

When was the last time the website is updated?

There is no information on the time that posts are published but it's been noted by the author that he publishes 2 lessons and materials every week.  There was no misused words structures and no errors to be seen. All the link seemed to be working and no broken links are present.

Personal Opinions on the Website and It's Possible Usage in ELT

I really liked the website when I first saw it. However, later I discovered that it was a paid service website nonetheless it provides most of its features for free. The author provides variety of sources as he brings so many people with so many different stories, cultures, ideas and points of views. The website is suitable for various age groups from kids to advances learners of English. 

As it consists of games, listening exercises it can be appealing to younger learners so that this tool can be safely and surely used in classroom. So that learners can learn the language while they are also having fun and relaxing being away from stress and all kind of anxieties that class atmosphere can cause. It provides lots of contents for the intermediate and advanced learners if English, too.

Teachers or prospective teachers of English can have lots of use from this kind of web-tools. Because the century we are living requires it. Innovatist approaches to the language learning must always be encouraged and highly motivated. So that learners can be motivated too. And the cycle goes on, and on.