Edukhabar
मंगलबार, ०६ चैत्र २०८०
English

The Role of ICT in Enhancing English Language Teaching and Learning

बुधबार, ०४ बैशाख २०७६

Abstract:

Language is the mirror of human life which delineates the life of human. Language speaks man’s personality. It is the cosmic medium like imparting the common information of society. English and ICT have become essential tools for a number of non-datum and emotions of everyday life. English language has become a global language because of its numerous functions and preferences over several other languages over the globe. English has become the window to the world. English is not only the mother tongue of Britain but also to so many countries like Canada ,USA ,Newzealand etc .It is also used as second language in many countries like Nigeria, Ghana etc. English has become a medium for business and interactional purposes among other functions .English is playing a major role in every field such as medicine, engineering, education, art and law, music etc. As the world is changing, there must be changes in language learning. But contemporaneous collide of globalization, the expanse of English and technological development have transformed our learning and teaching English as a Lingua franca in an unprecedented way. In every aspect of human life, Science, Information, Technology are playing a vital role .Even in the field of education the technological developments have started a new page. Traditional methods of teaching are not showing great impact on the learners. Technology has become a tool for making the learners innovative and also became a source for motivating the learners towards learning. To compete with this native speakers of English. Keywords: Paradigm, stimulus, explicit, immediacy, collaborative

Introduction:

“A new age demands a new paradigm” -Walter McKenzie “With the help of technology, teachers will be leaders in the transformation of education around the world”- Craig R .Barrett. ICT means Information and Communication Technology. According to Kent, “ICT in education point of view refers to Information and Communication Technology such as computers, communications facilities and features that variously support teaching learning and a range of activities in education [QCA schemes of work for ICT in Kent country council,2004]. Because of its interactive and dynamic nature ICT has the stamina to meet the needs of the individual student by providing opportunities to direct their learning and to pursue information. With the usage of ICT students can learn any subject especially English with ease. In the context of the global exchange the role of ICT has become inevitable in the 21st century. The use of ICT has become essential in every day classroom teaching and learning. Its use gives a chance to teachers as well as students to increase the quality of education and meet the requirements set by the coeval knowledge society.ICT has become essential tool for educational change and reform. Government of Nepal has included ICT as one of the subject in school level education. The Methodology of English has started a new way of using ICT in teaching.ICT provides more opportunities for communication between peer learners. With the use of ICT there is a two-way exchange of knowledge between home and school/ college. The teacher abides key to the successful use of ICT for learning. The integration of ICT in language teaching and learning has become an interesting topic to many researchers and education practitioners.

Computer Assisted Language Learning:

CALL is a broad and an ever changing discipline. Beatty defines, CALL as “Any process in which a learner uses a computer and as a result improves his or her language and it covers the wide range of current practice in the field.”The internet and different computer applications. Computer Assisted language learning(CALL) software, CD-ROMS ,and Office software applications have become common place in many teaching and learning environments. The computer can act as a stimulus which generates analysis, discussion and writing.

The Internet:

The internet offers the best way to learn language other than immersion in an English speaking milieu. The student’s relationship with websites is more noticeable than with print based text. Internet users may return to sites frequently or use internet for interaction to share their information and ideas. Digital technology is rapidly used by pupils and teachers not only in the classroom but also in the personal life.

The advantages of online learning:

The internet saves our time and energy. we can learn English lessons through internet without the need of travelling and without the need of leaving home or bedroom. With internet students can learn English anywhere at any time and whenever they want. The internet offers instant feedback to the learners which enhance the learning experience of the students.

E-Books:

 An eBook is an electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal or by using an eBook reader like iPods and kindle. EBooks also used to improve the teaching and learning skills in the classroom. In eBooks teachers and students can add images, info graphics, posters, video, and text, audio and so on. Learners can share eBooks with their friends. E=Books strengthen students’ note making skills, the knowledge of English grammar and application skills.

Audio Books:

Baskin and Harris (1995:372) explain, “The first literature heard, not read.”Audio books are not discovery of this century or even of the last one considering authentic books as equivalent to its content and not to its format (Baskin and Harris1995:372).Audio books are applicable for English language learners and young people who are craving for learning English with stories. Audio books develop the four language systems; phonological, semantic, syntactic and pragmatic. Audio books are recordings on CD or digital file of a book which are read aloud.”The use of audio books with struggling, reluctant or second language learners is powerful since they act as a scaffold that allows students to read above their actual reading level. Play way is the new arrival regarding audio books .Play way does not need a separate players and it is preloaded and ready to use.

Webinar:

Webinar is the best example for online learning. Webinar is an interactive seminar conducted via the World Wide Web. Usually a live presentation, lecture or work-shop that happens in real time as users participate through chatting, video-chatting, file-sharing or asking questions with a microphone. Webinars are more helpful in learning grammar.

Interactive White Board:

Gareth Davis says that “IWB brings everything together at one placemat one time with the use of authentic materials.”IWB acts as a motivational tool.IWB has to be connected to the computer and data projector.IWB offers teachers to comprise video clips, films interviews ,electronic microscopes, different websites etc .It improves the social skills of the students like cooperation and participation. In IWB lessons can be recorded and saved for further use. Bactra states that The power of images and capacity for collaboration is very significant in White Board’s impact on learning.”IWB teaching is completely different from traditional methods of teaching. According to Cunnings worth “vocabulary was a neglected area of foreign language teaching but it has gained its due recognition in the last few years” New vocabulary, word formation and sounds are practiced easily by IWB.

Mobile Apps:

Mobile digital devices like laptops, iPods, tablets, smart phones have made English language learning easier .At present there are so many apps available in the App store and Play store (Android) markets. These apps furnish students with quizzes, games, dictionaries, Podcasts and tests. Simultaneously teachers can now constitute the “gasification” element in teaching which put out interest in the students for a given topic. Mobile apps can perform as a personal 24/7 English language teacher. Some mobile apps which are amending English language learning and teaching are Dictionary.com, Hangman, Grammar’s, Quizmaster, 60- Second Word Challenge, Mobile Air Mouse, Ankhi Flash Cards, and English Idioms Illustrated etc.

Audio-visual aids:

In the 21st century the use of AVA has become inevitable. It has started a new genre in the field of teaching and learning language. Apart from traditional teaching teachers must adopt the topical and innovative teaching techniques.

1 The use of AVA makes the students active.

2 Students can get rid off their boredom and dullness in the class.

3 Provide attentiveness and enthusiasm.

4. They help to nurture the power of surveillance and independent judgment.

5.They give clarification about the content in the text book.

Over head projectors/slides:

To make ideas explicit we need some visual aids. Slides and slide projectors are used for unveiling objects in full colour. Over head projectors are used in language teaching and learning to supplement the black-board.

Tape-recorder/gramophone:

This is useful for teaching pronunciation, stress and intonation. Recorded information can be reproduced in the classroom. It gives a chance to the students to develop interest towards pronunciation. It helps the students to test their speaking skills.

Television:

The most efficient medium for teaching is television. The television appeals both to the ears and eyes. We can record some language teaching programmers in CD or Cassettes and can telecast them. This shows significant impact on the minds of the students. Radio and television give us the experience of real world into the classroom. Here teaching is very active process. Television is a companion, entertainer and instructor.

Film projector:

Knowledge acquired through films has a lasting effect. We can project some educational films, dramas etc. This can develop the listening and speaking skills of the students.

Language laboratory:

IJSER International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 7, Issue 7, July-2016 5 ISSN 2229-5518 IJSER © 2016 http://www.ijser.org This is the latest innovation in the language teaching. In this we have sound equipments and projectors, computers etc. which can give the students the practice of listening and speaking.

Web 2.0 applications:

It has come into light in 2005. It encourages sharing between users. In this we can have variety of applications such as blogs, social networking websites etc. The learners can be encouraged to write their own blogs. Social networking sites like face book, bebop, and flicker have become very popular. These can be useful for language learning.

Mobile phones:

Mobile phone has also become very essential tool for learning a language. It is a mini computer in every one’s pocket. Mobile phones function in many ways like the addition of texting, email, functions etc as computers do. In mobile phone assisted language learning we can find portability, social interactivity, community, individuality and immediacy.

Advantages of ICT in English language teaching:

The use of ICT has positive effects on foreign language teaching learning.

1. We can get the required information within a fraction of second.

2. Learners become more innovative with the help of e-learning.

3. ICT provides the information to the students which will be useful for them to compete with this competitive world.

4. English lessons that incorporate multimedia applications can exert powerful motivation and provide bored students with exciting new ways to learn.

5. ICT can make students and teachers to work with current and authentic sources.

6. ICT ameliorates the learner’s interaction, verbalization involvement in group collaborative learning.

7. Students can learn independently.

8. With ICT pictorial description is available.

Disadvantages:

1. Students get short span of attention because of the ICT in language learning.

2. Online learning cannot offer human interaction.

3. Students may open or log on to the unnecessary websites to play games or to watch movies etc.

4. Intense requirement for self-discipline and self direction.

5. Good infrastructure and trained man power is required to use the ICT tools in teaching and learning.

6. Communication is taking place between learners.

7. The teacher is only a mediator.

Conclusion:

ICT’s are intrinsic tools in many educational institutions. The use of ICT increases the scope of teaching. It provides quality learning materials and creating autonomy of learning. Along with academic excellence, students must have English communicative skills for their prosperous future. Curriculums must be made easy by including technological aids. Learners can share their work which can promote cultural diversity, have positive motivational effects and raise self -esteem.

Dangi works as an English Teacher in Shree Prabhat Secondary School, Baijanath-5, Banke

 

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