Memorandum

To: Professor Giovanna Balaguer

From: José L. Reyes Torres, 842-02-6221
Date: February 22, 2007
Re: MEMO 2: ONLINE SEARCH

The title of the article that I retrieved from the internet is “Technology and Second
Language Learners”. I found this article as part of a search in Google on the integration
of technology in the language classroom. The web site where I found the article is:
http://languagemagazine.com/internetedition/mj97/eets20.html. The article was written
by Mary Ellen Batler.

This article focuses on the importance of using technology in the second language
classroom. The author says that a technology enhanced curriculum employs multiple
modalities to meet the need of students with different learning styles and strategies.
Computers utilize a multi sensory collection of text, sound, pictures, video, animation,
and hypermedia to provide meaningful context to facilitate comprehension. Technology
can assist teachers in creating a supportive and affective environment in the classroom.
We can see in the article that technology can provide students with language experiences
as they move through the various stages of language acquisition. With technology like
interactive video and simulation programs, students can develop communication
competence by using English productively. The author says that today’s individualized
instruction utilizes multimedia to provide simultaneous practice of all skill areas. We
can see in the article that colleges and universities continue to produce teachers who do
not have good skills in utilizing computers. That’s why teachers need extensive training
in the different technologies.

With this search I learned the importance of technology in the language classroom. With
technology students can learn a language in meaningful tasks like, for example, with
simulation programs. When students use technology in the classroom they have lower
anxiety and they can be more productive. With the use of technology in the classroom
students can be more motivated in learning the target language. Technology can be
adjusted to the different needs of the students. It is important that teachers know about
the different technologies that can be used in the classroom.
/var/www/apps/collegelist/repos/collegelist/trunk/collegelist/tmp/scratch6/39136.doc

Enclosure

1
February 9, 2008