This is my opinion beforeI read Valaquez-Torres's article. You can find the article here at http://tesl-ej.org/ej36/a1.pdf
Isn't it true when we look back to our young days when we were doing BA, we have no idea how computers would be integrated into a language classroom. I remember my oral practice class (which I often got 'C'". Yes my speaking skill really sucks I admit that). I and my English major classmates met our native speaker teacher almost everyday. We had a lot of conversation practices in the class. We usually had to talk about topics usually raised by the teacher and then take turns asking questions and join group discussions. Actually it was quite stressful for me to push myself to talk about something without planing ahead. Nevertheless, no picture of any computer or other technology comes into my mind. We sometimes were required to use the cassette tapes for pronunciation listening and practices. But it's all from the teacher's demand.
There are no other way to enhance our oral product. We just went in front of the class and start giving speech on the defined topics. I wonder if teachers, who have shared the same student experience like me, would be able to integrate technology in the way that it support a lot of students who are fascinated in the cutting edge technology. We may look "dinosaur"- imagine when students ask us about how to download YouTube video....or they ask if we have our 'hi5, facebook, or bebo".
Isn't it true when we look back to our young days when we were doing BA, we have no idea how computers would be integrated into a language classroom. I remember my oral practice class (which I often got 'C'". Yes my speaking skill really sucks I admit that). I and my English major classmates met our native speaker teacher almost everyday. We had a lot of conversation practices in the class. We usually had to talk about topics usually raised by the teacher and then take turns asking questions and join group discussions. Actually it was quite stressful for me to push myself to talk about something without planing ahead. Nevertheless, no picture of any computer or other technology comes into my mind. We sometimes were required to use the cassette tapes for pronunciation listening and practices. But it's all from the teacher's demand.
There are no other way to enhance our oral product. We just went in front of the class and start giving speech on the defined topics. I wonder if teachers, who have shared the same student experience like me, would be able to integrate technology in the way that it support a lot of students who are fascinated in the cutting edge technology. We may look "dinosaur"- imagine when students ask us about how to download YouTube video....or they ask if we have our 'hi5, facebook, or bebo".
Are we people prepared to use technology in language classrooms?
Let's have a look what are interesting in Valaquez-Torres's article
EFL teachers read the below statement and see if you are agree with the ideas. Would you be able to turn these concepts into actions in classrooms?
Using new technologies can:
1. Enrich and enliven foreign language courses (how?)
2. Provide greater diversification of learning activities (define diversification?)
3. accommodate different learning and teaching style (ha, really?)
4. effective motivate students who live in a technologically developed society (Do our students have access to computers?"
5. offer students additional guidance and practices
6. involve students in foreign language environments without having to leave their regular classrooms. (wow)
Asking ourselve whether we believe the above premises would be possible in our school context might be enough to know how well we are prepared for using technology. It is not just our own computer skills, but there are a lot of external influences upon integrating technology in language classrooms.
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