How can ICT be used in teaching English as a Foreign Language?

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Title of Article : The use of information and communication technology ict in the efl classroom as a tool to promote l2 english among non-native pre-service english teachers

Author                 : Jermaine S. McDougald
                        The University of JaeÌn, 2009
                        Under the Supervision of Phillip Ball

Source : http://asian-efl-journal.com/thesis/2012/07/16/the-use-of-information-and- communication-technology-ict-in-the-efl-classroom-as-a-tool-to-promote-l2- english-among-non-native-pre-service-english-teachers/

Year : 2009

Question : Why is it need to integrate technology in ESL or EFL ?

What is ICT and how can it be used in teaching English as a Foreign Language? ITC is the combination of both terms Information and Communication, were put together in order to emphasize the merging of both technologies. Technology can be defined as the process of using scientific, material and human resources in order to meet human need or purpose. Then there is a simple definition of Information as 'that which can be communicated and understood’, then together a basic definition of IT could be: Information Technology is the use of information in order to meet human need or purpose. ICT is definitively a complement to conventional teaching, especially when developing reading, writing and listening skills in English. Now,using technology in teaching English becomes “a fact of life” (Chapelle, 2001, p. 1, in Jung, 2006) and becomes “a part of the broader ecology of life at the turn of the century” (Warschauer & Meskill, 2000, p. 10). It is widely assumed that technology has enormous potential to improve learners’ achievement by expanding students’ learning experience, increasing motivation, facilitating collaboration, fostering learner autonomy, and promoting global understanding, not to mention developing language skills if it is used effectively in the context where learning takes place. So,modern technology can now provide a virtual environment for students to explore, such as multimedia and interactive learning environments are incorporated into the basic curriculum in order to improve the quality of and equity of access to the education. Virtual Learning Environments have demonstrated time and time again effective communication links along with more opportunities for a variety of automated assessment tools. Resources are readily available both online and offline, as well as the accessible to students. Finally ICT make the learner study by Discovery learning, discovery learning is best applied by developing instructional systems where students are able to think and work more creatively while taking on a greater role in their own learning. There is no problem to afraid the role of the teacher in the process of study ESL and EFL.