This document discusses two main ways that technology can be used for language learning: as a source of teaching resources and to enhance learning experiences. It provides examples of how technologies like the internet, blogs, CALL software, and wikis can be used for language instruction and learning. Some key principles outlined are that technology allows for social interaction, authentic language use, individualization, and student autonomy. The role of the teacher is to plan technology-based activities and guide students, while students are actively involved in using the language. The document emphasizes reading, writing, and potentially speaking and listening skills depending on the technology used.
2. Introduction
There are two main ways to think about technology
for language learning;
As providing teaching resources,
As providing enhanced learning experiences.
3. As providing teaching resources,
For years technology may have only been chalk
and blackboard. Later audio and video recording
and playback equipment were added.
Now, we have www ( world wide web), a way of
accessing information over the internet.
This means, computers are online
dictionaries,grammar and style checkers for us.
4. As providing enhanced learning experiences
Technology is no longer simply contributing
machinery or more resources available that teacher
can use,
It also provides learners with greater access to the
target language.
As a result, it has the potential to change where
and when learning takes place. It can even shape
how we view the nature of what is that we teach.
5. Technology makes possible greater individualization,
social interaction, and reflection on language.
At the same time as technology enhances language
learning experiences, it also contributes to reshaping
our understanding of the nature of language;
Language is not a fixed system. Instead, it is always
changing and being changed by those who used.
Technology should be integrated into the curriculum
and not just added in because it is new.
6. Some principles,
Students are autonomous in what they shared about
themselves.
Students work on authentic language, which comes from
interactions with others through online or virtual
communities.
Language is learned by using it.
Students can learn from each others.
Teachers use achives of online student work to evaluate
and to guide them.
7. The role of teacher
The teacher’s role is to plan activities that students
accomplish via technological means.
Then the teacher monitors their work and guides the
students as they learn the language.
8. The role of student
The students’ role is to be actively involved in using
the language, in taking risks with the language by
connecting with others.
Students also can help others.
9. Emphasized skills
Computer use naturally requires the skill of reading
and writing, although speaking and listening may
also be worked on depending on the types of
technology used.
10. Techniques
Blogs
It can be thought of as online diaries or journals. Since
blogs are written by people remarking on their travels,
daily life, current events, they are rich source of
authentic material for reading, discussion,and study.
11. Techniques
CALL (Computer-assisted Language
Learning)
There is wide variety of CALL softwareand websites
are available for language learners.
Some of the CALL programs are open source, which
means that they are free and can easly be
downloaded onto computers.
12. Techniques
Distance Education
One of the applications of technology to language
learning is in the direct delivery of language
instruction via the web.
An advantage of web based instruction is that
provides access to language that migt not be
available otherwise.
13. Techniques
Electronic Text Corpora
Electronic text corpora are collections of language
texts, most often written, but sometimes spoken
texts in transcript form.
14. Techniques
Wikis
It is a quick way to create and edit web-documents.
Wikis can be very useful in collaborative writing
tasks.Multiple authors -group of students- can write
one text together.
Wikipedia
It is a shared online encyclopedia. What makes it
unique is that anyone can contribute information on
topic,so the information is always being updated.
15. Conclusion
If technology is to be a positive force in education, it
should not be cast as an alternative to classroom
teaching, or as replacing the teacher, but as a tool
that facilitates meaningful and challenging
classroom work
(van Lier 2003: 2)