While there are some online resources to learn ESL translated into the main trade languages used in Africa most children are not yet fluent enough to use them. Presently, there are 80,000 total users of the internet in BURKINA FASO with a penetration of 0.5 % of the total population using the internet but in the 2000 there were only about 10,000 internet users. This is big jump for a place like BURKINA FASO. This is a growth in internet use of 700.0 % from the year 2000 until the present. It also means that younger ESL learners will be getting their turn to use the world wide web to learn English as well.
Presently, there are not many websites designed especially for young ESL learners for use in BURKINA FASO. In order to provide these students with extra practice for their English as a Second Language lessons , it is necessary to create lessons especially for them.
First, how do students use these sites? Determining this will help us in our designing process. First, they try out a few easy activities. In order for this to happen, they will need to have a computer at home or access to an internet cafe. It should have as fast a connection as possible to make the most of the resources available. In the capitol city of Ouagadougou this should not be a problem. Easy activities for children are usually filled with colorful graphics. Children around the world like color but especially in BURKINA FASO. Slide shows of pictures of the word showing while the audio plays the word being said. Then have the word printed under the picture of the word as it is again shown with the audio played. Like in regular education, each item should be taught three times initially and recycled into the lesson plan again soon.
There are also Joomla modules that provide many formats for multi-choice quizzes. One even has the ability to tell if you selected the right object out of a picture! ESL videos are also a great way to introduce materials to young learners in a format that the love but there is a hitch. Video over the internet, even with a fast connection is not of consistently good quality as of yet. In order to get the video shown the image quality has to be greatly degraded. This is not so much a problem for adults because we understand the limitations of the internet but children watch television and expect that quality even when on the internet.
In conclusion, given that the population of BURKINA FASO that uses the internet is 0.5 % many of these adult users have children and will want them to be practicing their English on the internet. This is good news for us as ESL materials developers. The technology is now easier than ever to use so let’s get up some websites for children in BURKINA FASO so they can enjoy learning English.
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