WHY USE ICT IN ELT?

Don’t use computers all the time

Reading and writing skills currently emphasised in computer use. This is despite the availability of audio files, such as Voice of America, from which teachers can make http://www.voanews.com listening activities.

Up-to-date and authentic information

Autonomous learning

An alternative to a library of books available on-line.

Useful for self-access, studying at own pace, etc.

On-line tests and exams.

For teachers, ease of preparation with downloadable exercises, lesson plans.

Mixed ability work can be going on simultaneously in the same classroom.

Students who might otherwise be reluctant in face-to-face activities (non-virtual) are often willing to participate in chat activities on line

Students participate in activities with other schools, other countries.

Email and chat communication facilities for intercultural projects.

Net-meeting has been found to be advantageous for these cultural activities. Students highly motivated, especially when they have a new audience to talk about themselves!

Linguistic activity – tri-lingual dictionary creation.

Subconscious vocabulary enrichment through using them in context of activities.

Motivation cannot be taken for granted.

Multi-media lab for pronunciation allows sound waves to be visualised. Students need to be trained to use sophisticated means.

Students need to differentiate between multi-media as a game and as a learning tool. They must learn to learn from computers, which is often not what computer savvy students typically use them for.

It can be important to focus a lesson on the language point, not a computer-for-its-own-sake lesson.

Is there so much input available, over which you are in control, that students cannot deal with it and take it beyond the classroom? It is the teacher’s responsibility to focus them. Develop critical thinking and judgements.

Students do a lot of inessential activities at the computer – they needn’t sit in front of the computers all the time. They need to process away from the computer.

Students suffer the delusion at the beginning of computer use in language learning, that they have been busy without learning any English.

Some concern about the interpersonal effects of computer use … group dynamics under threat which may not be appropriate to expect during a computer session.

Students can spend a lot of time being “busy” without learning.

The quality of learning is not necessarily the first priority of decision makers.

Teacher training is not given the consideration due.

The computer stands between the student and the teacher: what is the relationship between the machine and the student?