Week 12

REVIEW of ZEP

Name : Yusmahani

NIM : 220502500069

Class : 08/F

Question Guide for ZEP in ELT review

(answer one or more questions from each part to guide you writing the review)

I. Introduction:

1. What is Zep.us? Briefly describe its main purpose and features in your own words.

Answer: Zep.us is a web-based platform that creates a virtual world where people can interact through avatars. The main purpose is to make online communication more fun and interactive. Users can walk around virtual rooms, join meetings, play games, and talk using voice or video.

2. What were your initial expectations or impressions of Zep.us before using it?

Answer: At first, I thought Zep.us was just a simple meeting tool like Zoom, but after using it, I realized it is more creative and fun, like a mix between a game and a learning platform.

3. Why did you choose to review Zep.us? What was your specific interest or goal in

exploring this tool?

Answer: I wanted to review Zep.us because I was curious about how it can help in teaching English. I was interested in seeing if it could make online learning more exciting for students.

II. Features and Functionality:

4. Describe the user interface and overall ease of navigation. How intuitive was it to set up

and use?

Answer: The user interface is simple and looks like a game. It’s easy to understand, and setting up a room or joining one only takes a few clicks. Even beginners can use it without difficulty.

5. What are the key features of Zep.us that you found most useful or interesting? (e.g.,

virtual spaces, video conferencing, games, customization options).

Answer: The most interesting features are the virtual spaces where you can walk around, the customizable avatars, the voice and video chat, and the mini-games. These features make learning more active and fun.

6. Discuss the quality and reliability of the video and audio conferencing features. Were

there any technical issues?

Answer: The video and audio work well, but they depend on your internet connection. Sometimes there is a short delay, but overall, the quality is good for group work or class discussions.

7. Evaluate the variety and educational value of the mini-games available on Zep.us. How

engaging and effective were they?

Answer: The mini-games are fun and helpful for keeping students engaged. Some games can be used to review vocabulary or grammar in a fun way, making learning feel like play.

8. How customizable are the virtual spaces and avatars? Did this enhance the user

experience?

Answer: The rooms and avatars are very customizable. You can design your classroom to look like a real place, which helps make students feel more involved and connected.

9. Did you encounter any features that were difficult to use or understand?

Answer: At first, moving the avatar and finding the settings took a bit of time to get used to, but after a few minutes, it became easy.

III. Pedagogical Applications (for ELT):

10. How suitable is Zep.us for teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL)? Provide specific

examples of how it could be used for different language skills (listening, speaking,

reading, writing).

Answer: Yes, Zep.us is suitable for teaching English. For listening and speaking, students can talk to each other using voice chat. For reading and writing, teachers can add texts on the screen or use the whiteboard for writing activities.

11. In what ways can Zep.us enhance student engagement and motivation in online EFL

lessons?

Answer: Zep.us makes learning feel like a game. Students enjoy moving around and talking to friends, so they become more active and motivated to join the class.

12. Discuss the potential of Zep.us for facilitating collaborative learning activities among EFL

students.

Answer: Yes, teachers can divide students into different rooms to work in groups. This helps students practice teamwork and communicate in English in smaller groups.

13. What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of using Zep.us compared to other

online teaching tools (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet)

Answer: The advantage is that Zep.us is more interactive and fun. It feels more like being in a real classroom. The disadvantage is that it may not work well on slow internet or older devices.

?14. How could Zep.us be used to create a more immersive and interactive learning

environment for EFL students?

Answer: By letting students move around, choose their own avatars, and explore rooms, Zep.us feels more real and exciting. This helps students focus more and enjoy learning.

IV. Overall Assessment and Recommendations:

15. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Zep.us as a web-based tool for EFL

education?

Answer: The strength is its fun and interactive design that helps students stay focused. The weakness is that it requires a strong internet connection and may not be suitable for all devices.

16. Would you recommend Zep.us to other EFL teachers? Why or why not?

Answer: Yes, I would recommend Zep.us to other EFL teachers. It is a great way to make online learning more engaging and different from regular video meetings.

17. What specific improvements or additional features would you suggest for Zep.us?

Answer: I would suggest making it lighter so it runs better on all devices and adding more educational mini-games that match English lessons.

18. What is your overall rating of Zep.us (e.g., out of 5 stars)? Provide a brief justification for

your rating.

Answer: I give Zep.us 4 out of 5 stars. It is creative and effective, but there is still room for improvement in performance and features.

19. Reflect on how using Zep.us has changed your perspective on designing online EFL

materials.

Answer: Zep.us made me realize that online English classes can be fun and not boring. It encouraged me to think more creatively when planning lessons.

20. What is the future potential of tools like Zep.us in the field of online language

education?

Answer: In the future, tools like Zep.us can become very important in language education. They can help teachers create more engaging and interactive classes, even if students and teachers are in different places.