E-portfolio : Integrating technology into teaching

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Generative Questions:

How is the role of technology and learning styles in the EFL class?

How can CALL (Computer-assisted-language learning) integrated in the EFL classroom

Welcome to a new week of learning.

Our main theme is focused on the integration of technology in education; to be more specific, this week we will explain several topics related to Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL).

A Problem that is often debated nowadays is the importance to change lessons from traditional styles such as translation based-instruction or grammar-based instruction towards a communicative approach. Therefore, many teachers are looking at how to shift their lessons to meet new education purposes. It is no secret that some of them may have successfully changed their teaching styles; however, lessons are still more teacher-centered than student-centered in some classrooms. It seems to me that lessons should be designed to include whole class activities such as lectures, pair work or group work.

This brings up to the question of how is the role of technology and learning styles in the EFL class?

Here is where technology plays an important role into education. For me, it transforms the teachers’ role. There are also some technological devices which can assist teachers in creating lesson plans. Opportunities are provided for teachers to make possible changes in their strategies and methodologies by using different software programs. Technology also allows teachers to construct suitable classroom activities and to involve their students in the teaching process. For example; through:

flipped classroom Hashtag activities

What did you do at the weekend? This important activity could be designed by teachers, who will ask to their students that tweet photos of their weekend. Let`s do it!

Educators have to create a hashtag for all the tweets. The idea is that students could include many photos of interesting things that they did the last day. Undoubtedly, this activity will offer to students several types of themes for dialogue on the next day.

It is time to know the history of CALL

Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) may be defined as the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning (Levy, 1997, p.1).

This a great video related to CALL created by Yamilet, who is young Youtuber.

The history of CALL is often divided into three phases:

Behaviorist CALL:

One of the most striking features was that this stage was incorporated into educational systems between in the 1960's and 1970's. Incidentally, we not forget that this device was used as the first form of computer-assisted Language Learning. First of all, let us try to understand that this program was based of repetitions called “drill-and-practice method”. From my point of view, what we know today as the behaviorist learning model.

Communicative CALL:

In second place, we have the Communicative CALL which arose in the 1970's and 1980's. It would appear as a reaction to the behaviorist approach to language learning of the time. This stage brought several conflicts with exponents of communicative CALL because they were against behaviorist approaches and its teaching methodologies. As a result, they thought that CALL should be focused more on student skill rather than on repetitions; at the same time, they agree that education was an artistic process of discovery, expression, and progress.

Integrative CALL:

Last but not least, we have the third stage, which was focused on integrating the main four skills of language learning (listening, speaking, writing, and reading). For me, the gist of the matter was to mix technology with language teaching in order to encourage students towards a new era of learning. It is no secret that computer offers a great opportunity to change the student`s future.

Why use CALL?

Experiential Learning

The World Wide Web makes it possible for students to tackle a huge amount of human experience.

Motivation

Computers are most popular among students either because they are associated with fun and games or because they are considered to be fashionable

Enhanced Student Achievement

Network-based instruction can help pupils strengthen their linguistic skills by positively affecting their learning attitude and by helping them build self-instruction strategies and promote their self-confidence.

Authentic Materials for Study

All students can use various resources of authentic reading materials either at school or from their home. Those materials can be accessed 24 hours a day at a relatively low cost.

Greater Interaction

Random access to Web pages breaks the linear flow of instruction. By sending E-mail and joining newsgroups, EFL students can communicate with people they have never met.

Individualization

Shy or inhibited students can be greatly benefited by individualized, student-centered collaborative learning.

Independence from a Single Source of Information

Although students can still use their books, they are given the chance to escape from canned knowledge and discover thousands of information sources.

Global Understanding

A foreign language is studied in a cultural context. In a world where the use of the Internet becomes more and more widespread, an English Language teacher's duty is to facilitate students' access to the web and make them feel citizens of a global classroom, practicing communication on a global level

What can we do with CALL?

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a virtual library of information that can be accessed by any user around the clock.
Two EFL classes from different countries can arrange to send E-mail regularly to one another.
Another network-based EFL activity could be project writing.
The Internet and the rise of computer-mediated communication. What is more,students have become active participants in learning and are encouraged to be explorers and creators of language rather than passive recipients of it.