The role of Internet in the ESL classroom

 If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change

-Wayne Dyer

Generative Questions:

How can Internet enrich your class?

Why is it important to use Internet in a language class?

    

This video is a funny explanation on how internet can help English language learner.

Enjoy it!   🎥 🎧👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

- How can Internet enrich your class?

✋✋What we are concerned with here is how to incorporate the internet in a classroom. It stands to reason that, some teachers are not prepared to include technological platforms in their educational programs; what is more, they could see this step like a huge obstacle. However, it cannot be denied that the teachers’ role is essential in inquiry-oriented science teaching. In fact, Schrock (2003) mentions that: “We find that learning together makes it possible to reach the high goals we set for ourselves. With this and other continued support, our staff anticipates change and is much more accepting of new ideas that come with it”. (p.52) As a future professor, I believe that one of the greatest benefits of using the Internet in the classroom is to offer educational opportunities for students, of course, based on their skills and interests.

When we compared with other techniques like Grammar Translation Method, it is possible to distinguished that students acquired a better interest in class. For instance, I could teach a basic lesson on a writing strategy and allow a learner, who is interested and motivated by soccer, finding examples of the writing strategy on a soccer-focused web site. I strongly feel that, this lesson suddenly becomes more motivating, exciting, and memorable to this learner.

- Why is it important to use Internet in a language class?

It is a well-known that communication and collaboration are particularly exciting for learners using the Internet. Pupils can set up their technological devices such as: computer, smarts phones, and tablets in order to connect with other students around the world. It is no secret that, students could use e-mail activities as a way to learn grammar. You know what I am writing; nowadays, students could improve their skills through the internet, so it is time to use this important tool as soon as possible.

Undoubtedly, lesson 3 was an interesting class to me. It stands to reason that, my neurons are activated every Monday afternoon. In this activity, all of us had the opportunity to design an impromptu exposition related to several guidelines which are designed to help teachers implement computer network-based activities into the second language classroom.  While it is true that we had a few minutes to elucidate our themes, it is also true that we did a good teamwork. Our calssmates laso gave us their contribution in this nice activity; for me the gist of the matter is that, we should use the advantages of internet with the purpose of increasing our skills and divergent thinking. First of all, let me inform you about our group work in order to enrich learning. Well, it was based on five main points which I will explain below.

Let`s go to work

#1 Consider Carefully Your Goals

• First reason is that electronic discourse tends to be more lexically and syntactically more complex than oral discourse. I have not thought of that before!

• Another viable reason for using the Internet is that it creates optimal conditions for learning to write, since it provides an authentic audience for written communication. Exactly!

• A third probable reason is that it can increase students' motivation. I have nothing against with this point.

• A fourth potential reason is the belief that learning computer skills is essential to students' future success; this reason suggests that it is not only a matter of using the Internet to learn English but also of learning English to be able to function well on the Internet. It is very clear that these observtions show that technology plays an important role into educational programs.

Furthermore, it is important to take into account that one of the teacher's goals is to teach students new computer skills. Moving on to a next point, we exposed about think integration or something like that.

#2 Think Integration

I want to explain more in depth about it. Nowadays, teachers should be involved in creating learning activities that create sufficient linguistic and cognitive demands on the students. For example, when the e-mail classroom connection processes are truly integrated into the ongoing structure of homework and classroom interaction, then the results can be educationally transforming. The teacher can work with students to create research questions which are then investigated in collaboration with foreign partners. Indeed, experts believe that professors must be committed with their vocation, of ocurse, this compromise for the sake of the learners. Another point is:

#3 Don't Underestimate the Complexity

It is no secret that to many English teachers, even those who consider themselves computer novices, have several relative advantages when learning to use the Internet. They are, in most cases, skilled at English, experienced at typing or keyboarding, and have some basic computer literacy but some students are beginners with technological devices. The other side of the coin is that there are some downside like:

Disadvantages

• Activities in a single class may be dependent on scheduling the computer lab.

• Hardware and software can malfunction and computer systems can be down.

• The partner teacher might not have the same understanding of the nature of the exchange.

• The learners might have differences in background, language, experience, etc.

#4: Provide Necessary Support

It seems to me that need to provide support sufficient to prevent students from being overwhelmed by difficulties; that is to say.

• creating detailed handouts that students can refer to when class is finished and the teacher's personal help is not accessible

• building technology training sessions into the class schedule.

• working with the computer center to set up log-on systems

• assigning students to work in pairs or groups.

•  being available to help students at times when they are most likely to need it.

#5: Involve Students in Decisions

Last but not least we have this point. Teacher need be fully aware of the impact of student`s opinion through a inquiry or questions. You know what I mean! Definitely, this might involve anonymous surveys, class discussions, or similar means of involving students in expressing their opinions about the process of implementing technologies. To fully exploit these opportunities, the teacher must learn to become a "guide on the side" rather than a "sage on the stage".

Involving students in determining the class direction does not imply a passive role for teachers. Teachers' contributions in a learner-centered, network-enhanced classroom include.

• coordinating group planning, focusing students' attention on linguistic aspects of computer mediated texts

•  helping students gain meta-linguistic awareness of genres and discourses

• assisting students in developing appropriate learning strategies.  

References

Mark Warschauer & P. Fawn Whittaker. (10th, October 1997). The Internet for English Teaching: Guidelines for Teachers. 1st, October 2017, of TESL Reporter website: http://iteslj.org/Articles/Warschauer-Internet.html.

Kathleen Schrock. (2003). Developing Web Pages for Educators. USA: Teacher Created Resources, Inc.