USING TECHNOLOGY IN

THE LANGUAGE
CLASSROM

Erin Lowry Centro Cultural Salvadoreo

March 6 & 7, 2007

Overview

Why use technology

Traditional and new technologies
Various technologies and how they can be
used in the language classroom


What are some examples of technological
tools you could use in the classroom?

What can you do with

technology in the language
classroom?

Can be used as:

an instructional tool in the classroom
a delivery system for learner instruction
as instructional content itself

Traditional Technology
Tools

Stereos & televisions

Overhead projectors & document cameras
Audiotapes & CDs
Videotapes & DVDs
Cameras & camcorders
Telephones

Using Movies and TV

Shows

Creating activities to go along with video

Adapting video
Using video as something other than a filler

Why Use
Multimedia?

Multimedia activities encourage students to work in

groups, express their knowledge in multiple ways, solve
problems , revise their own work, and construct knowledge
Advantages include:
Real-world skills related to technology
The value of teamwork
Effective collaboration techniques
The impact and importance of different media
The challenges of communicating to different audiences

Disadvantages to
Multimedia

Some constraints in the classroom include:

Technological resources, both hardware and
software
Technological skills, for both the students and
teacher
Time required to plan, design, develop, and
evaluate multimedia activities
Sometimes the technology simply doesnt work!

New Technology Tools

Computers, data projectors, and the Internet

Stand-alone software
MP3 players
Podcasts
iTunes

Handhelds & cell phones

What is CALL?

Computer-assisted Language Learning

Technology is NOT a replacement for a live
teacher

What can we do with

CALL?

Collaborative projects
Peer editing of compositions
Email
Reinforcement of classroom material
Games and simulations
Blogging and podcasts
WebQuests
Authentic language learning opportunities

Suggestions for
Online Learning

We need to consider how learning will be

affected by using an online environment.
3 suggestions for effective use of the web for
online learning:
Provide access to rich sources of information.
Encourage meaningful interaction with content.
Bring people together to challenge, support, or
respond to each other.

(Wilson & Lowry, 2000)

Building Online
Community

Final suggestion is a recommendation that a

supportive community is needed to make
online learning effective.
A sense of community is not an incidental
effect of the design of instruction
Community is a necessary element to promote
higher-level thinking

(Schwier, 2001; Wilson, 2001; Kanuka, 2002)

Online Authentic
Language Sources

Mass media
New York Times
Voice of America
BBC
NPR
Newsweek
Time Magazine (for kids)

Benefits of Using
Computers in the
Language
Classroom
Multimodal practice with feedback
Individualization in a large class
Pair & small group work on projects
Fun factor
Variety in resources available & learning styles
used
Real-life skill-building in computer use
(Warschauer and Healy, 1998)

More Tools

Course Management Software

Blogs (Blogger, Wordpress)
Photo Management (Flickr, Instagram)
Podcasts Wikis (pbwiki, Wikispaces, Wetpaint)
Website design
Forums
Chat or telephony services
And many more!

Discovery Puzzlemaker

Assignments:
Choose a topic for two puzzles and share with
group.
Create a puzzle and post links to Yahoo Group
for their classmates comments

Filamentality

Assignments:
Read about Filamentality and choose a type of
activity to create for a specific group of students
Comment on choice with group. Create the activity
and post the link in a message on our Yahoo!Group.
Visit a few of the activities produced by
participants in the group and comment on them.

Filamentality Options

Hotlist
Treasure Hunt
Subject Sampler
Multimedia Scrapbook
WebQuest

WebQuests

Go beyond learning facts and want to get into

grayer, more challenging aspects of the topic.
Presents student groups with a challenging
task, scenario, or problem to solve.
Current events, controversial social and
environmental topics work well.

Listening

Randalls ESL Cyber Listening Listening activities organized

by length (short/long) or topic (general/academic). Students listen
to a sound file (with or without caption) and then answer
questions about the dialogue they've heard.
Arlyn Freed's ESL/EFL Listening Resources Includes reviews
of the web sites listed, noting the forms of technology used, pros
and cons about the site/material, and suggestions for listening.
Listening Practice from esl.about.com Listening practices
for learners of different proficiency levels with accent listening
gallery and listening lesson plans.
English Listening Room Listen to songs and fill in the blanks.

Pronunciation & Speaking

English Pronunciation Demo pronunciation lessons

with instructions and QuickTime movie on how to
pronounce individual sound, and activities such as
tongue twisters, minimal pair distinction and dictation.
Sounds of English Online resources on the
pronunciation of pairs of sounds in text, audio and
graphic formats.
BBC Education Varieties of games with animation
and audio on the basic phonics such as consonant
cluster, CVC words and long vowels.

Grammar

Grammar Guide Comprehensive online resource for grammar

usage with explanations and examples.
Internet Grammar of English Online resources on word classes
and structural rules of English with explanations and examples.
Each section provides a list of exercises after explanation.
Grammar Reference An extensive site that contains grammar
references at different levels (e.g. word & sentence level,
paragraph level) as well as a collection of interactive grammar
quizzes.
Grammar Quizzes A collection of grammar quizzes organized
according to level of difficulty. Quizzes are in the form of multiple
choice and fill-in-the-blank.

Reading & Vocabulary

Vocabulary for ELLs a collection of links

for learners from Ohio ESL.
Online Books from the University of
Pennsylvania.
Reading Activities Puzzlemaker.

Writing

Writing Guidelines Online resources of

guidelines on different genres of writing (tips,
sample writings, etc.).
Paragraph Punch An educational software
that guide learners step by step through the
whole process of writing a passage.
Writing Den Writing tips and quizzes at word,
sentence, and paragraph levels to help learners
to improve their writing skills.

Other Online Resources

Technology for language teaching. Ohio

ESL.
OneStopEnglish. From MacMillan. Lesson
plans and ideas for activities.
BBC Teaching English. Ideas on teaching,
tips, lesson plans, and more.