Website Update January 2026
Happy New Year!
As I have stated before, I started my website 28 years ago in 1998, and I never thought I would still be running AND developing my website after all this time, and yet, last year saw some of the greatest changes and additions to my site. Here is a short list of developments in no particular order.
- Variable speed control – This feature was really huge in adding the ability for users to control the audio playback of conversations for more fine-tuned listening. Take a look at this feature in action – https://www.esl-lab.com/easy/family-recreation/.
- Grammar Lessons – Although the main focus has been on listening, I wanted to expand its application to grammar as it relates to listening and speaking. There are 55 lessons at three levels (https://www.esl-lab.com/grammar/). There is also a section of problematic word pairs that often trip up students.
- Agree/Disagree Statements – Teachers often look for warm-up activities to spark conversation. Now, most of my listening conversations have time.
- Social media content – We have been publishing social media content to inform and promote my website content.
- Social media reels – I have also been experimenting with short learning ideas and tips in the form of short video reels, now found on different platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
- Numerous website enhancements – We have spent a lot of time adjusting website formatting issues, style changes, and navigation tweaks to improve content usability.
- Content organization – We made a big change in how the listening activities are organized. For 25+ years, they were arranged in alphabetical order, but that didn’t help visitors find what they want and need. This past year, we rearranged the order of activities by topic. I think it makes more sense to have it that way. Take a look – https://www.esl-lab.com/easy/.
Many more tweaks have been made, and we look forward to more exciting changes in 2026.
Randall