ESL/EFL Web Sites: What Do Users Need and What Can They Expect To Find There?.

With the fast growth of online distributed educational resources, objective criteria are needed for evaluating resources and describing their structure and content. The study conducted an analysis of 22 popular ESL Web sites based on 99 characteristics in 18 categories. Their purpose was to describe existing Web sites using these characteristics, and to find their common and unique features. By asking the question, "What do we look for in a useful Web site?" all requests can be divided into five topics: (1) information; (2) materials for teachers and students; (3) communication; (4) publishing; and (5) learning. Characteristics of Web sites include: users, audience, access, language, content, and provider, incorporation of a communication function, support/help functions, relevant links and information for teachers. Web site features also include organization, update, navigation, and design, and organization around a menu versus a local or global search engine. The research showed that there are three types of ESL Web sites: "liaison," listing only links to other sites; "supportive," that also offer learning or teaching materials; and "comprehensive," providing full-scope online courses. In demonstrating the findings, the report provides a full description of the Web sites--including consideration of Web site structure, organization and content evaluation--and proposes some guidelines for the creators of ESL Web sites. (Contains 33 references.) (Author/AEF) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.