Emerging Technologies
Currently, I am teaching English as a foreign language to Turkish young
adults (17-24) at an English medium
university’s English language department which is located in Istanbul, Turkey. In terms of accessing information technologies
in class,we are using Interactive White Board (IWB) software of the coursebooks
and assign weekly homework from the e-workbooks that students have access with
individual passwords for the purpose of self-study and revision of topics
covered in class.
Considering the student profile I am teaching, feelings of boredom and lack
of intrinsic motivation towards learning English are the challenges I quite
often experience as an English language instructor. Therefore, while searching
online for my emerging technologies proposal,
I have come up with the idea of using
podcasts and blogs as technological tools to supplement my teaching and expand
students’ motivation and interest in learning English as a foreign language.
As an educator, I can make use of podcasts as audio files both in and
outside of class to engage students in active listening and speaking to help
them improve their English language skills. In order to achieve this,
ESLpod.com is a good resource I can introduce students to. This site includes premade audio files which
are free downloadable and developed primarily for English as a foreign language
learners. Additionally, “ podcasts
promote academic listening skills, facilitate preparation for listening tests,
and provide grammar and vocabulary tips for in-class use while they can be
repository of classroom discussions for outside of class to extend what was
covered in class” (Hegelheimer & O’ Bryan, 2009).
Blogging is another emerging technology tool that I consider using for my
proposal. As Bloch (2007) put it, while
blooging helps students write in academic style, it also facilitates
discussion, exchange of ideas, and personal reflection. Moreover, blogging is an activity that
“enables students to become contributors and not just consumers of information”
(Bloch, 2007). Also, as Richardson
(2010) emphasized, blooging has the power to change the way students consume
information. As an educator, my aim is
to help students become self-directed learners who take responsibility of their
own learning. Therefore, I believe blogging will encourage and motivate
students to communicate with more confidence.
References
National
Institute for Literacy, Emerging
technologies in adult literacy and language education, Washington, DC 2006
Richardson, W.
(2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other
powerful web tools for classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
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