Teaching

English with
Technology
Gabriel Daz Maggioli, M.A.
14th March 2009
Do
Do
you
you
understand
understand
this
this
joke
joke
?
?
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 2
Technology
Technology
natives
natives
vs
vs
Technology
Technology
immigrants
immigrants
Do you use
technology
in your
classes?
If so
How much? How often? How well?
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 3
Aims of this
presentation
Help you understand
technology
Provide ideas on how
to use technology in
the classroom
Look at some examples
of technology use by
students outside the
classroom.
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 4
Technology
Technology
in
in
history
history
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 5
What
What
do
do
experts
experts
say
say
?
?
Technology in Language Teaching is not new.
Indeed, technology has been around in
language teaching for decadesone might
argue for centuries, if we classify the
blackboard as a form of technology. Tape
recorders, language laboratories and video
have been in use since the 1960s and 1970s,
and are still used in classrooms around the
world.
Dudeney and Hockly, 2007
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 6
www.brainybetty.com 7
So what is technology?
So what is technology?
Technology is the broad term used to
address any kind of media (electronic or
otherwise) which help support learning.
Technology is used for teaching primarily
the same knowledge and skills that
teachers teach in the classroom. What is
special about technology is that it provides
opportunities to supplement familiar
teaching strategies in important ways.
Does
Does
using
using
technology
technology
help
help
learners
learners
learn
learn
more?
more?
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 8
Some
Some
advantages
advantages

Technology
allows students to vary
the amount of time they spend
the help they request
the path they take through a learning activity
enables the teacher to tailor instruction specifically
to individual learners
provides individualized interaction
helps learners develop learning strategies that will
benefit them beyond the language classroom.
provides authentic material in a quick, accessible
way
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 9
And
And
some
some
disadvantages
disadvantages

Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 10

But
But

technology
technology
is
is
not
not
the
the
answer
answer
to
to
all
all
our
our
problems
problems
in
in
the
the
classroom
classroom
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 11

or
or
outside
outside
it
it

Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 12

So, what sort
of things can
we do?
A few practical ideas to start the
year with technological pizzazz
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 13
Getting
Getting
started
started
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 14
Where do you
think we
should/could
Start?
The
The
possibilities
possibilities
are
are
endless
endless

Word processor
Websites
Email
Chat
Wikis
Blogs
Podcasts
Online reference tools
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 15
Word
Word
Processor
Processor
Inserting images and links
Creating forms (Adding text boxes,
check boxes and drop-down menus)
Using track changes
Creative writing
Collaborative writing
Check:
http://edvista.com/claire/wp.html
http://office.microsoft.com/ Search for FORMS
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 16
Websites
Websites
Considering googling key webpages before
the class to provide them to students.
Check the webpage for accuracy, currency,
content and functionality.
Save the links to your favourite webpages in
your FAVOURITES menu.
Check:
http://www.ask.com for real language searches
http://www.google.com for images and info.
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 17
Doing
Doing
things
things
with
with
webpages
webpages
Treasure hunts (similar to Find someone who)
Webquests (Aim, Final product, Process,
Resources, Evaluation)
Comparing versions.
Analyzing style.
Internet-based Project Work.
Access to authentic Listening comprehension
texts
Access to Videos and videoclips.
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 18
Email
Email
Learners submit work as attachments by mail
Teacher emails learners homework, summaries of
classwork, extra material, etc.
The teacher can email regular newsletters about the
class and themselves during the academic year as
well as over the holidays.
Learners can email to prepare before class.
Learners can use email for individual tutorials with the
teacher.
Email can be used for collaborative writing (In groups
Learner 1 starts the story and so on)
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 19
Chat
Chat
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.
Advantages
Contact with other learners/cultures
Real communication with a real purpose
Use of a new mediumin the classroom
Opportunity to practice both spoken and written English
Check:
http://www.skype.com for voice and text chats
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 20
Blogs
Blogs
Tutor Blog Student blog Class blog
Set homework Personal and family
information (including
photos)
Reactions to a film,
article, class topic, current
affairs, etc.
Provide a summary of
classwork
Extra writing practice on
class topics.
Thing learners like /
dont like doing in class.
Provide links to extra
reading/listening
materials.
Regular comments on
current affairs.
A class/groups project
on any topic
Question and Answer
(e.g. about grammar,
classwork, etc.)
Research and present
information on a topic
(e.g. English-speaking
country)
Exam/Study tips Personal photoblogs
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 21
Wikis
Wikis
A wiki is like a public website or public
web page started by one person, but
which subsequent visitors can add to,
delete or change as they wish.
A wiki is like having a publicly accessible
word processing document available
online, which anyone can edit.
Check:
http://www.wikispaces.com
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 22
Podcasts
Podcasts
Similar to a radio or tv show.
You can listen to or watch (or even
create) a podcast on a topic that
interests you whenever you want to.
Check:
http://www.englishcaster.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk
http://www.npr.org
http://www.audacity.com
Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 23
Online
Online
reference
reference
tools
tools
Dictionaries
Language translators
Thesauruses
Concordancing programmes
Monoconc (www.monoconc.com) U$ 69
Corpuses
www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk
Encyclopedias
www.britannica.com
www.wikipedia.com
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Some
Some
ethical
ethical
issues
issues
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We
We
should
should
acknowledge
acknowledge
that
that
developments
developments
in
in
technology
technology
will
will
always
always
exist
exist

Gabriel Diaz Maggioli, M.A. 26

Bibliography
Chapelle, C. and J amieson, J . (2008) Tips for teaching with
CALL: Practical Approaches to Computer-Assisted Language
Learning. White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman
Dudeney, G. and Hockly, N. (2007) How to teach English with
Technology. Harlow: Pearson Longman
Simkins, M., Cole, K., Tavalin, F. and Means, B. (2002)
Increasing Student Learning with Multimedia Projects.
Alexandria, VA: ASCD
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