Digital Technologies for ELT

Nowadays, gadget has become one of our needs. Wherever we go, we always bring our gadgets. This phenomenon can be found everywhere including in schools. Most of the students have their own gadgets today. Thus, teachers should control what their students browse on the internet. This control can be done by providing many useful resources as learning materials for students available on the internet, such as:

1. Film and Videos

We can find numerous film and videos in the internet. As a teacher, we need to carefully select any films and videos from the internet as our teaching materials. One site providing videos that can improve students' skill is wyzant.com. This site not only provides videos but also some materials and interesting yet challenging activities and quizzes that can enrich their knowledge and they have enough space to practice their skill.

2. Apps

As a large source of knowledge, internet also offers some applications that can enhance their knowledge and skill. For instance, Word Wit by Ballpoint offers adult ESL students who sometimes stumble over homophones, connotation or denotation, idioms, and other problematic English structure clear explanation of those problematic things.

3. Digital Field Trip

Some students learn best when they experience the material themselves. One way to learn things through experimental learning is by conducting field trip. However, teachers may find it difficult to conduct field trip. Difficult to arrange time and lack of fund are two common reasons why conducting field trip is a difficult thing. Fortunately, internet provides digital field trip, such as Inside the White House. This site allows visitors to have a look at the sketch of real White House. It also provides some information about the current and popular issues there.

4. Podcast

Both students and teachers may find myriads of podcast resources on the internet. Youtube and iTunes are two example resources of podcast.

5. Penpals

When I was a child, we got pen pals by writing letters to someone or some people from other areas. Today, we can simply have penpals through internet. As internet used by people all around the globe, we can easily have penpals from several different countries. By having penpals from different part of this world, we can get some advantages, such as we can learn their culture, we can learn their language, and etc.

6. Online Games

Some students are addicted to online games. As teacher, instead of making them stop playing online games, teacher may direct them to some educational games that can improve their skills and knowledge. Two examples of fun and meaningful games are Funbrain and Star Fall. Funbrain provides books and games for Pre-K to eight grade students. While, Star Fall provides multiple games for younger students to increase English literacy skills.

7. Blogging

Among the other skills, writing has become such a burden for some students. As they have to use proper punctuation, correct grammatical rules, select appropriate diction, and consider the cohesion and coherence. However, teacher should encourage students to write something. As students like to operate their gadgets, teacher may use internet as a media for them to practice writing skill. Teacher may ask them to write something that interest them or write comment on current events or issues on their blog for instance.

8. Skype

As the development of technology, it is possible nowadays to have face-to-face interaction with people from any location. Thus, both teacher and students may use one of the advantages of the internet to broaden their knowledge. For example, by using Skype, students have a chance to practice their speaking and listening ability. In addition, students and teachers may have more attempts to join webinar, or even hold a parent-conferences.