Using Technology in the SL/FL Classroom

As the world changes, so must the classroom. For teachers, this means adapting to changing technology as well as changing students; students are often those most up to date technological advances, and to keep students interested and engaged teachers must also keep abreast of these advances. Using technology in the classroom can have many advantages and this is absolutely true in the second language classroom.

Why use technology in the SL/FL classroom?

As made clear in 21st Century Learning ideals, technology is a daily factor in today’s society and cannot be ignored, in or out of the classroom. As intimidating as it can be to move away from more traditional teaching styles and use newer strategies, adapting to changes in technology is in the best interest of the students and must be done. This is not to say that technology should be used constantly, rather it should be integrated into the traditional instructional methods in order to maximize learning opportunities for students.

New technologies can serve many different functions and they often help make the material more authentic, which is especially important in the SL/FL class. Technology brings the world closer together; it can help students gain more exposure to various cultural elements of the TL, which makes language learning more experiential. Students can also gain more exposure to the language through technology, thereby increasing their language development.

How will technology help with SL/FL development?

Teachers can use technology in many different ways to help with language development; the internet is an amazing tool through which a phenomenal amount of information can be retrieved. It also provides increased opportunities for communication. Teachers can also provide different opportunities for students to interact through the language, whether with cds, videos, or online resources.

How would the students interact with the technology?

Listen – With the internet, students can listen to the radio, podcasts, and participate in online chats through portals like Skype.
Read – There are innumerable activities and texts available on the internet that students can read and interact with. Students also have access to authentic materials such as menus, tickets and maps.
Write - Many activities on the internet are interactive requiring students to respond; in this way they can practice their spelling, grammar, and sentence formation. There are also programs available to help students correct their own writing. Students can find online pen-pals to communicate with.
Watch – Videos online give students another opportunity to see how the language is spoken by someone other than their teacher. It also provides a real-life look at cultural activities in different countries, or even of special events in their own country.
Speak – There are programs that can help correct student pronunciation. Students can also communicate live with their pen-pals or people abroad through free online communication programs like Skype. They can also record themselves on programs like Garage band for creative purposes or to critique their own pronunciation.

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Language Learning & Technology: A Refereed Journal for Second and Foreign Language Educators
http://llt.msu.edu/