{"id":3977,"date":"2013-05-01T11:00:51","date_gmt":"2013-05-01T11:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eltweekly.com\/elt-newsletter\/?p=3977"},"modified":"2013-05-01T11:00:51","modified_gmt":"2013-05-01T11:00:51","slug":"appropriate-english-language-teaching-technology-by-shiny-k-p","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/?p=3977","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Appropriate English Language Teaching Technology&#8217; by Shiny K.P."},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Abstract<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The focus of English teaching has to be on the teaching of language rather than on literature. The tradition of English teaching has been drastically changed with the remarkable entry of technology. Technology is utilized for the enhancement of modern styles. The use of appropriate teaching aids and equipment in the language classroom could improve the communication skills and increase the motivation of the learners and teachers. This paper discusses some of the appropriate and unique teaching techniques like, podcasts, Chat, Radio, Charts, and Puppetry to enable the language classroom more interactive and interesting.<!--more--><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Introduction<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Technology is the open term used to address any kind of media which help support learning. With the rapid development of science and technology, a wide variety of supplementary teaching aids has been developed and many of them can be particularly helpful in teaching English in India and in other developing areas. As Zhang (2006:11.1) points out through network technology we can offer students not only rich, sources of authentic learning materials, but\u00a0 also an attractive and a friendly interface, vivid pictures and pleasant sounds, which to a large extent overcomes the lack of authentic language environment and arouses students\u2019 interest in learning English. Techniques for facilitating learning, remarks Strevens (1969), \u201ccan be very greatly improved by the use of appropriate aids and equipment\u201d.\u00a0 There are many techniques applicable in various degrees to language learning situation. Some are useful for teaching business English, spoken English, reading, listening or interpreting. The most effective technology integration lessons put students at the centre of the learning process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to D\u2019Angelo &amp; Woosley (2007, p. 462), \u201cTechnology has evolved and become more central to teaching and learning\u201d and by citing the works of various researchers, they illustrate that technology is being used across disciplines. George Siemens, in his presentation at Educause on January 27, 2008, said, \u201cCurrent developments with technology and social software are significantly altering: a) how learners access information and knowledge, and b) how learners dialog with the instructor and with each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The following technologies are currently used in the classroom: traditionally,\u00a0 pens, pencils, and paper; chalks and chalkboards; dry-erase markers and books then later,\u00a0 overhead transparencies; slides and slide projectors; photographs; instructional radio; instructional television; educational films; educational TV; media projectors; interactive whiteboards and presentation technologies; computers and computer-related technologies like, laptops, workstations, servers; PowerPoint, blogs; wikis, social bookmarking; podcasts, multimedia-based learning objects, multimedia-based presentations, simulations, Internet-based applications and systems, office productivity, \u00a0network-based technologies, systems involved with delivering web-based learning\/distance learning\/online learning; test banks; online library databases; electronic mail; live chat\/text messaging; discussion boards; web-based videoconferencing, classroom recording system and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Advantages of Technology<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0improves students\u2019 interest and motivation in study and their involvement in class activities,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">inspires students\u2019 positive thinking and communication skills in social practice,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">enables the teacher to tailor instruction specifically to individual learners,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">provides individualized interaction,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">helps learners develop learning strategies that will benefit them beyond the language classroom,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">provides authentic material in a \u00a0quick and accessible way, \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Equip the learners with knowledge and bring about information-sharing among students, \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">provides flexibility in teaching and learning<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, technology is not the respond to all the problems in the classroom teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Simple Technology<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the present world is imperative to use new aids of teaching in the classroom. The teaching of foreign languages in particular should not be a \u2018chalk and talk profession only. But, at the same time, we cannot afford to be extravagant in this direction. Highly mechanized and electronically operated teaching aids will be difficult to manage particularly in rural areas. The world of higher education in urban or semi-urban areas may effectively integrate the following technologies in the classroom;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Computer Technology<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Computer technology enables the learners to work on programmes that enhance learning. Word processing help students with typing and publishing papers. There are a variety of programmes that help students practice skills, review material and test specific skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Internet Technology<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Internet can provide resources and websites for practicing skills and monitoring student progress. It also has resources for teachers pertaining to student management, lesson plans and teaching general knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Podcasts<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A podcast is an audio or video file archived on the Internet in such a way that it can be automatically accessed by a personal computer, downloaded and transferred to a portable MP3 player. In other words it is similar to a radio or T.V. Show. The learners can listen to or watch or even create a podcast on a topic that interests them. Podcasting has been a popular method of delivering audio and video content over the internet. A growing number of teachers have embraced <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Podcast\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">podcasts<\/span><\/a> as an exciting way to make learning more effective and fun. Teachers have used this technology to record lectures or presentations that can be accessed by students at a later time. They have also used podcasting to record school performances and events for the benefit of students as well as their parents. Perhaps the most exciting use of this technology is its application in <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Project-based_learning\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">project-based learning<\/span><\/a>. Students involved in creating podcasts must use higher levels of thinking and creativity as well as problem solving skills. They have the opportunity to use their imaginations by writing and acting out scripts while learning how to work with the technology itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Chat<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Chat is a tool which allows for synchronous, i.e. real- time, communication over the internet. It may include a video and sound component or only text. Some of the benefits are; the learners can contact with other learners\/cultures, real communication with a real purpose, use of a new medium in the classroom, opportunity to practice both spoken and written English.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Radio\u00a0 <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Teachers have explored the use of radio in the classroom almost since radio technology entered into the mainstream of society, yet radio remains a relatively unused mode of instruction. Radio is an innovative, inexpensive, and highly effective educational tool. It is used for communication purpose. It can be used in the language classroom to listen to radio talks, stories, dialogues, music, world news, weather etc. These programmes would help the learners to engage in the art of storytelling, description and character development through creative writing and thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, the utilization of these technologies in the rural areas is very limited. Therefore, the teachers need to adopt simple and more appropriate technologies making full use of indigenous materials and techniques appropriate to the needs of the local students. One of such techniques is puppetry besides blackboards, wall pictures, maps, posters, charts and models etc. Large pictures can be seen by the whole class by direct display and no projection is required.\u00a0 Maps can be used for drawing and writing captions. A complex story can be told in a series of pictures or charts and flash cards can be used for teaching grammar, words and sentence structures. It is difficult to convey effectively all the relevant bits of information only through language. For teaching any language other than L1 particularly the literature of the language,a good knowledge of its culture is necessary. Visual aids which are of great help in this grasp and experience of L1 culture and also save explanation time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Puppetry<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recently special attention has been paid to educational puppetry and it has been found valuable in a teaching situation. Literacy House, Lucknow, makes imaginative use of puppetry in its educational programmes. Indian puppeteers are popular for their skill and the government makes use of their shows for propaganda and publicity. When puppetry is used as a visual material in language teaching the teacher has a greater control over content, timing and method. In fact puppetry has the requisites to develop into a dynamic teaching medium. Therefore, a puppet theatre can be an excellent piece of equipment in a second language classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Galarcep (1971) has recommended puppet shows as excellent audio-visual aids in the English class. Here are some of the ways in which, as Galarcep has recommended, puppets can be used in an English class:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to teach greetings<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to teach prepositions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to teach comparatives and superlatives<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to dramatize dialogues<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">in word games<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to present facts about nutrition<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">in rhythm studies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">in biographies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">in sketches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, the teacher can teach prepositions with the help of a story or a game. Two puppets appear on the stage and move their hands to point different places.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gopi : I\u2019ve lost my pen. And I am sure you have it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Raju : Who? Me? I don\u2019t have it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gopi : You have it under your coat ( he lifts up Raju\u2019s coat as if searching for it)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Raju : No (he moves back). I saw it in little Kiran\u2019s drawer. You must go into his<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gopi : ( in the bedroom) Here it is, but on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Raju : Gopi, have you found it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gopi : Yes, but it wasn\u2019t in the drawer, it was on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Remsbury (1972) finds puppetry of much use in language teaching by oral methods and lists the following as its practical advantages:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Puppets take the dullness out of repetition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The puppet takes us out of the classroom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u2018Controlled conversations\u2019 go off with \u00e9clat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Learners remember a puppet show longer than a lesson<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are no hurt feelings when a puppet criticizes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Experience has shown that since puppets have no \u2018ego\u2019 they can be used to tackle more delicate subjects than live actors can.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Puppetry is of special benefit to shy and nervous children and also gives the feeling of involvement and participation to the entire class. These shows give a sense of relief from the tension of classroom teaching and add variety to the lesson.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The application of these teaching aids is not all that simple and the whole idea is a challenge to the teacher. Sometimes the teacher may find the use of these techniques a little taxing. The teacher has to spend much time in gaining competence in the use of these materials. But, it will certainly enhance the teaching profession. If the language teachers are seriously wish to improve the standards of language teaching, efforts must be made in the right earnest to spread their use. D\u2019Angelo &amp; Woosley (2007, p. 463) point out that \u201cProfessors who employ various methods of teaching such as a PowerPoint, video segments and overhead projectors during one course lecture are able to better keep students\u2019 attention, thereby reducing boredom with the lecture and, consequently improving the overall learning experience.\u201d So the use of technology, when used properly, can actually engage students and put the students in a position of greater control of their learning. However, these techniques should not be overused in the classroom. A moderate use of technology and innovative teaching aids will definitely enable the learners to master the second language without much difficulty.<b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>References<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">D&#8217;Angelo, J., &amp; Woosley, S.\u00a0Technology in the classroom: Friend or foe. <i>ducation<\/i>,\u00a0<i>127<\/i>(4),\u00a0462-471.\u00a0 <i>Retrieved January 26, 2008, from Pro Quest Education Journals\u00a0database<\/i>. (Document ID:\u00a01325378541), 2007. Print.<b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Galarcep, F.M. <b>\u00a0<\/b>\u201cPuppets in Teaching English<i>\u201d, English Language Teaching\u00a0<\/i><i>Journal,<\/i> Vol. XXV, No.2, 1971. Print.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Remsbury, Ann. \u00a0\u201c Oral Methods Through Puppetry\u201d, <i>English language Teaching\u00a0<\/i><i>Journal, <\/i>Vol. XXVI, No.3, 1972.Print.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Siemens, George. Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. <i>Educause, San Antonio. 28 Jan<\/i>., 2008. Print.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Strevens, P. \u00a0\u201cWhere has all the money gone? The need for cost-effectiveness studies in the teaching of foreign languages\u201d. In: <i>Application of Linguistics. (1971). Ed. G.E. Perren and J. L. M. Trim. <\/i>Cambridge University Press<i>, <\/i>1969. Print.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Zhanghongling. <i>The development tendency of the modern foreign language teaching and the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0computer assisted instruction.\u00a0 Computer- Assisted Foreign Language Education 3, 2006<\/i>.<i> <\/i>Print.<\/span><i> <\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/library.thinkquest.org\/J0113011\/uses.htm\">http:\/\/library.thinkquest.org\/J0113011\/uses.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/Anandkab\/educational-technology-and-its-application-6745492\">http:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/Anandkab\/educational-technology-and-its-application-6745492<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.englishcaster.com\/\">http:\/\/www.englishcaster.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">http\/\/ Integrating technology into the classroom \u2013 a help or a hindrance? Daniel S. Christian,\u00a0Calvin College.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/teachhistory.com\/2009\/10\/18\/the-benefits-of-using-podcasting-in-the-classroom\/\">http:\/\/teachhistory.com\/2009\/10\/18\/the-benefits-of-using-podcasting-in-the-classroom\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #003366;\"><strong>About the author<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #003366;\">Shiny K.P. is working as a lecturer in the P.G. Department of English at JMJ (Autonomous)\u00a0College for Women, Tenali, affiliated to Acharya Nagarjuna University, Andhra Pradesh. She\u00a0has 9 years of teaching experience. She has published 4 articles and presented 10 papers at\u00a0various National and International Conferences and Seminars. She has delivered 2 invited talks\u00a0and had been one of the resource persons in the Workshop-cum-National Seminar on Telugu-Malayalam Short Story Translation held in the Department of Telugu and Oriental Language,\u00a0Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur during 3-7 October,2005. She has received \u2018Best Service\u00a0Award\u2019 on 3rd Jan, 2011 by S.C., S.T. and Minority Employees Federation, Tenali. She has\u00a0special aptitude to English Language Teaching. She is also in charge of Intermediate Students\u00a0and Vice-Principal of the college.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abstract The focus of English teaching has to be on the teaching of language rather than on literature. The tradition of English teaching has been drastically changed with the remarkable entry of technology. Technology is utilized for the enhancement of modern styles. The use of appropriate teaching aids and equipment in the language classroom could [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","omw_enable_modal_window":"enable","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[466],"tags":[1650],"class_list":["post-3977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-elt-research-papers","tag-shiny-k-p","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3977"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3977\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}