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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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 Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject: Why are ESL sites a big mess? |
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I thought I was the only one who thought this until I stumbled upon:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=155916
Jesus H. Christ
Why are there no organized, planned, professional, ESL websites?
Look at ESL printables, boggles world, even pay websites look terrible. EFL 2.0 is great if I could understand where I'm going.
Anyone feel the same way about these ESL sites?
I feel like I'm in a mad house. |
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red_devil
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Because they're too cheap to pay any one that knows how to make sites. Which is hilarious because you can grab Drupal and the core installation has everything you need. Toss on one of the many free themes, and you're good to go. Done. Takes like 10 min. |
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Hightop
Joined: 11 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Still going with the whole 'buy my book link' CL??? Your little legs don't stop moving. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Hightop wrote: |
| Still going with the whole 'buy my book link' CL??? Your little legs don't stop moving. |
??? You must be mistaken. You have the wrong site. This one has free worksheets, handouts, lesson plans, etc. |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 12:03 am Post subject: |
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| Why is it that many internet cafes are operated by housewives who don't even know how to turn on a computer? Those housewives don't need to know anything about computers, programming, debugging, et al. And neither do those who 'own' ESL websites. |
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Dodgy Al
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| http://www.teflclips.com/ is a great resource site for lesson plans based around yoututbe vids. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 12:39 am Post subject: |
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ah! I've seen the site's name before. I am going to have to take a look later. A co-worker uses it and likes the site a lot. |
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Korussian
Joined: 15 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 12:43 am Post subject: |
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| Tobias wrote: |
| Why is it that many internet cafes are operated by housewives who don't even know how to turn on a computer? Those housewives don't need to know anything about computers, programming, debugging, et al. And neither do those who 'own' ESL websites. |
Good point, Tobias! And in both industries, it hasn't been difficult up to now to succeed even while offering a crappy user experience.
Up to now, ESL Resource sites have generally not been held to a high standard of design/usability. It's easy to stick together a bunch of orphaned handouts & links and toss your hat into the ESL ring, since your site couldn't possibly look any junkier or be less intuitive than what's out there.
I have the impression, though, that things are improving, and in the next year or two we'll start seeing more resource sites that are put together with the end user experience in mind. Here's hoping. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: |
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I'll definitely chime in here....
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| Because they're too cheap to pay any one that knows how to make sites. Which is hilarious because you can grab Drupal and the core installation has everything you need. Toss on one of the many free themes, and you're good to go. Done. Takes like 10 min. |
You've obviously never attempted to do anything like this nor get membership, nor try to think what is best for which teachers and why. Not knocking you personally but there is A LOT more going on than just this.
1. It is all about the user these days. A site will only be as good as the members and what they contribute, no matter how the site creator frames and organizes. Meaning, it is about quality and not quantity.
2. Things are changing constantly. It is about keeping informed and keeping membership informed. Those that think "it is simple", simply don't understand that nowadays, everything is changing under your feet. So best to keep things moving and allow the user to be in control (a la 37 signals).
3. It is all about "people". So many sites don't have a person who knows "dick" about "jane". They aren't in the business nor up to date about things. Stay with those who know the business and give valuable knowledge and resources because THEY CARE AND KNOW THE BIZ - not because of their wish to "capture" some demographic and make you pay.
I myself am learning. I know more than 99% of people out there, when it comes to technology and I'm not on top of everything. It isn't easy. On my own site - you can get everything BUT you must be prepared to invest your time. Just like good teaching, it is about commitment. Ain't no free lunch.
If people do want things easy to find - they can load up their resources on EFL 2.0 under the right category. TAG with an appropriate tag and it will be found. Or just go HERE for backup Danno.
And then we still have people constantly using a site like this which works like a cotton ginny 
In a nutshell, it ain't easy and nobody is offering you a big mansion and a hundred virgins.
DD
http://eflclassroom.com |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 2:00 am Post subject: |
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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention though...
But the times, they are a'changing... My sleeves are looooooooooong
DD
http://eflclassroom.com |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 5:55 am Post subject: |
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| ddeubel wrote: |
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention though...
But the times, they are a'changing... My sleeves are looooooooooong
DD
http://eflclassroom.com |
I agree with the OP, your site needs some major improvements in navigation. Just loading the first page up is pretty overwhelming.
I guess you are influenced by Korean sites that have way too much crap on each page.
People don't want to have to look over tons of stuff on the front page. I've always been one that found simple beats all.
Proof? Dave's is pretty damn simple and he gets the most traffic out of any ESL website.
Also not to insult you, but your slogan had me laugh. When one teaches, hopefully more than two learn. I sort of get what you mean: the teacher learns too, but it is awkward and thus funny to me.
Anyways, at least you got another "hit" by having me check out your site. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 5:59 am Post subject: Re: Why are ESL sites a big mess? |
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| cubanlord wrote: |
| Goku wrote: |
I thought I was the only one who thought this until I stumbled upon:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=155916
Jesus H. Christ
Why are there no organized, planned, professional, ESL websites?
Look at ESL printables, boggles world, even pay websites look terrible. EFL 2.0 is great if I could understand where I'm going.
Anyone feel the same way about these ESL sites?
I feel like I'm in a mad house. |
 Well, I just re-vamped my site and am currently building it up. I think my site is professional and easy to navigate through.
~
www.ralphsesljunction.com |
Your site is clean and easy to navigate. A lot nicer on the eyes (and brain) than some other sites.
I like that you have another site for plugging your book sales. It's good to keep that separate from the main site. (And more professional too).
One question: will writing books make you money vs. the amount of time you invested in them or do you do it more for the resume factor and scoring better jobs? |
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Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 6:12 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, about eflclassroom - DD - you obviously put a lot of effort into your website, and I don't doubt there's tons of material there that help tons of people.
Unfortunately, the couple of times I tried to get on there, I just couldn't navigate the site well at all. When I did find something, like the family feud type game you have on there, I couldn't figure out how to make the answers not appear on the page (therefore ruining the "game" experience). Now, I'm obviously not a tech-nerd and could use a bit more savvyness on the computer, but your site was a turn-off for me.
No free lunch and all that, but the queue to get to the lunch-counter is a mile-long... Just some feedback - take it or leave it. |
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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 6:36 am Post subject: |
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I'll have to comment more,
DD your site is awesome, but for the love of god, hire a webmaster.
I remember the first time I logged onto your site, I clicked 6 different links and they all lead to the same page.
I felt like I was a mouse trapped in a labyrinth
Quite frankly I still can't navigate through your site. Which is the only reason I don't visit it.
You'd increase your traffic so much more if you had a clean simple organized navigation.
There are even cookie cutter templates you can buy online for beans. $20 Usd etc...
I can understand not wanting to change though. You spent a lot of time making that site, I can tell. And myself being really enamored with whatever I create would also be at a struggle to change it. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Why are ESL sites a big mess? |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| cubanlord wrote: |
| Goku wrote: |
I thought I was the only one who thought this until I stumbled upon:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=155916
Jesus H. Christ
Why are there no organized, planned, professional, ESL websites?
Look at ESL printables, boggles world, even pay websites look terrible. EFL 2.0 is great if I could understand where I'm going.
Anyone feel the same way about these ESL sites?
I feel like I'm in a mad house. |
Well, I just re-vamped my site and am currently building it up. I think my site is professional and easy to navigate through.
~
www.ralphsesljunction.com |
Your site is clean and easy to navigate. A lot nicer on the eyes (and brain) than some other sites.
I like that you have another site for plugging your book sales. It's good to keep that separate from the main site. (And more professional too).
One question: will writing books make you money vs. the amount of time you invested in them or do you do it more for the resume factor and scoring better jobs? |
Hey Pink,
The book that I completed, and the second one I am about to complete were created for 3 reasons and 3 reasons only:
1 - after 5 years, I felt I had a little to give teachers. I culminated my knowledge, experiences, and research into what I know, first hand, works in helping students improve listening skills - the book.
***2 - I plan on going on to do my Ph.D. The publishing I am doing these days in Modern English Teacher, English Teaching Professional, and other top journals/magazines in our field will only help me get into a good program. Add my books with this and my chances only increase. ***
3 - I just want to recover my costs associated with printing the book. That's all. This is definitely not a money-maker. It's more of an effort to share knowledge and get my name out there. |
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