Using the internet in ELT classroom

Using the Internet in ELT Classroom
Abstract:

Communication technology is developing constantly and becoming a part of our everyday life. It is no wonder that; computer technology has brought new opportunities for language learners and teachers too. Our language teaching philosophy, method, or approach needs to be broadened to encompass new Technologies.

In this interactive session, the presenter will explore how language teachers can integrate the internet into their teaching. She also will share her own experience of having an internet lesson with the audience by showing one of her internet-based class that was videotaped for this purpose.

Using the internet in ELT classroom

Why use the internet? · Large amount of authentic language texts · Authentic language tasks · Choice –(Learner autonomy) · Learner Motivation These four conditions support optimal language learning (Egbert, Joy, 1996).

Why –Theoretical issues How – lesson planning(practice) Lesson planning involves planning: · Objectives · What teacher does · What students do · How teacher assesses the fulfillment of the objectives

	Stages	Time
Stage 1	Warm up	5 minutes
Stage 2	On line task – reading	15 to 20 minutes
Stage 3	Offline task – students’ presentations	30 minutes
Stage 4	Feedback stage	10 minutes

Don’t forget! Or, some practical considerations

• Some reminders when deciding to give it a try with your own class: of course, go through the whole thing yourself to be sure that everything is what it appears to be.

• Check your computer equipment at your school to be sure your hook-up is fast enough to download the necessary web sites. Nothing can be more frustrating than waiting for a very long time in front of a computer screen
• Have back-up material or sites prepared in case something happens to the sites while the class is working. If you are teaching an internet class you need to be flexible so that if there are problems with the technology or content, then the lesson doesn't come to a halt.
• Monitor carefully. The same class management skills needed for a conventional lesson are still needed in the internet class.
• The range of accessible material on the web is one reason teachers need to plan and monitor carefully. There are software programs available to help filter or block certain types of content, but these do not always work effectively. There is no substitute for the teacher being well-prepared and alert.

Making the student comfortable with the technology

• Admittedly, the computer can be an overwhelming and imposing instrument to students and teachers. The complexity of the computer - not to mention the overwhelming choice of possibilities - can put students and teachers off as they lose time grappling with how to use the computer.

• Students who are not comfortable using computers should be placed with students who are. These students should not be forced to use the mouse or type at the keyboard. As they become more familiar with the technology, they will often begin to play a more active role - even if they don't, the ability to use the computer is not the issue.
  
  
• Students more comfortable with the computer should be strongly discouraged from using other resources available in the program itself, or in other programs.

References:

Egbert L. Joy (1996). Analytic and Systemic Analyses of Computer-Supported Language Learning Environments. TESOL Quarterly 2(2). Retrieved from TESL-EJ online journal from http://www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/information/tesl-ej/ej06/a1.html.

Ellis, R. (1986).Understanding second language acquisition Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Levy, M. (1990). Towards a theory of CALL.CAELL Journal 1(4) 5-7.

Levy M. (1997) Computer-assisted Language Learning: Context and Conceptualization Oxford: Clarendon Pres.

Situation: You have 20 students. You are planning to have your lesson at the computer lab where there are 20 computers with internet connection. You have 2 or 3 class-hour (80-120) for the internet activity. Your topic is shopping. You want to use yahoo shopping page at http://shopping.yahoo.com as your material instead of your course book.

Task: Please prepare a rough lesson plan based on the yahoo shopping page and be prepared to tell the whole group about your lesson plan.

Consider the following points:

1-How would you shape the flow of the lesson – What stages do you intend to follow? How much time will you allocate for each stage?

2- What percentage of the lesson do you think your learners should spend looking at their computer screens?

3- How do students demonstrate what they have learned?

	Stages	Time	Explanations
Stage 1	Warm up - Students discuss following questions. Do you like buying presents for your fiends and family members? Have you ever tried shopping on the internet?	5 minutes	Teacher is checking if students are linguistically and conceptually ready for the lesson.
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5