Website Eval - LiveMocha (making me want a latte...)

LiveMocha

 

Software/Website Title: Free Online Language Learning with LiveMocha!

 

Website URL: www.livemocha.com

 

Grade/Age/Proficiency Level: Proficient for 9-12^th grade students learning a new language, or any young adult to adult learner of a new language.

 

Language & Content: Spanish Acquisition as a Second Language

 

1)What is the intended purpose of the software or website?

The purpose of this website is to give anyone the opportunity to learn any of several languages for general practice, language acquisition, travel essential phrases, or more.

2)What is the content of the software or website and how is it presented?

 

The content of the website is based on the best-selling language learning software known as Rosetta Stone. LiveMocha offers a free version of Rosetta Stone with some of the newest technology in computer-assisted language learning. It is mostly presented to school districts’ language departments. Schools may purchase “golden keys” which unlock several levels of the LiveMocha software online and allow complete access to the students and/or teachers. People may try free versions of the software, but it doesn’t take a person very far into language acquisition.

 

3)What external documents (some guides) does the software or website include? Are they effective?

 

None on this website.

 

4)In what ways is the software or website interesting to the target audience?

 

There are 35 languages available for learning on LiveMocha. The target audience is any student or adult wanting to learn one of the languages, or a school teacher wanting to use the software as a supplemental curriculum.

 

 

 

5)For what language goal(s) is this software or website useful/effective?

 

From the Indiana state standards of teaching World Languages, this software highlights the 5 C’s of language learning; Communication (reading, writing and speaking the target language), Cultures (developing awareness of other cultures), Connections (making connections in other content areas), Comparisons (investigating the nature and language and culture), and Communities (becoming an active global citizen by experiencing languages and cultures in multiple settings).

 

Here are screenshots of each of the 5 C’s:

 

 

6)    How can teacher use this program or website to offer practice to students? Assessment? Feedback? Of what kinds? (give examples)

 

The teacher or school can purchase golden keys or their classroom and LiveMocha will set the teacher up as an administrator for their students’ accounts. The teacher has the ability to see the students’ work, progress, and how they are communicating with each other or foreign speakers that also are learning languages in other countries. LiveMocha sets up their own assessments through “gold coins” that the students receive for giving feedback to other language learners, which highlights the Communities standard.

 

 

7)    Is this software or website easy to use? (i.e., navigation, layout, etc.)

 

This website is very user-friendly and the navigation is simple. Below is the opening page for an account. Every place to get to is navigated from the tabs on the left side of the screen.

 

 

8)    What are the strengths of this software or website?

 

The strengths of this software is that it is the perfect example of a new CALL program/software that students in the classroom can utilize as a tool. Teachers can use this as a supplement, which it does cover the 5 C’s of world language learning for the state of Indiana. The strengths of the website is that it is user-friendly and allows students to listen, speak, write, and chat with other participants globally.

 

9)    How can this software or website be improved?

 

The software could potentially be improved by updated media formatting such as, but not limited to: photo examples of vocabulary (flash cards), native speakers in dialogue form, and writing examples that would be more specific to the lesson being learned. Overall, the website is really improving, and consistently moving forward.