ARTICLE REVIEW
A. TITLE
The Use of
Computer Technology in EFL Classroom: Advantages and Implications
B.
VOLUME
International
Journal of English Language & Translation Studies, Volume 1, Issue: 1.
C.
AUTHOR
Safia Mujtaba Alsied
Department of English Language &
Translation Studies,
The Faculty of Arts, the University of Sebha,
Sebha, Libya
Mustafa Mubarak Pathan
Department of English Language & Translation Studies,
The Faculty of Arts, the University of Sebha,
Sebha, Libya
SUMMARY
Implementing technology in teaching
English as a foreign language has been a hot issue among fellow linguists and
their discussions have led to the advantages and disadvantages that using
technology in language teaching may bring. As students nowadays are considered
as ‘digital native’, where they are born in a generation where technology is
rapidly developing, students find it more interesting rather than using the
traditional method.
The
integration of computer technology has been around since the 1950s and since
then the advent of technology in EFL teaching has led to significant changes to
teachers’ methodology and approaches.
Advantages
of using technology in EFL learning.
a)
The
four language skills
Listening
The use of internet gives the students
opportunity to enhance language learning by bringing in the real world;
students are able to find plenty of authentic video and audio materials in the
internet.
Speaking
The use of computer and internet also
enable students to practice and improve their speaking skills. Softwares and
applications like Skype, Yahoo Messanger, and even Omegle, open up opportunity
for to chat and video call in a foreign language environment.
Reading
With the widely accessible source
through the internet, students are able to find a variety of latest and
authentic reading materials, as compared to the dated reading materials
provided in the textbook.
Writing
A study by Cunningham (2000) concluded
that his students in his writing class was more productive when he used word
processing softwares with his students. The students indicated that using word
processing softwares make it easy for them to concentrate on certain aspects of
their writing. For example; grammar, vocabulary, organization structure of their
texts.
b)
Computer
technology and learner autonomy.
Language learning pedagogies have been
acknowledging the importance of learners deciding their own their own
objectives, choosing their own approach in achieving the objectives and also
their own monitoring of their progress. Technology has opened up an opportunity
for the students to be an autonomous learner; they can find their own materials
through a variety of sources and also monitor their own learning.
c)
Computer
technology and learners’ motivation.
One of the most
influential factor to language study is motivation. Motivation provides the
primary impetus to initiate EFL learning and later remains the driving force
that sustains this long and often tedious learning process (Dornyei, 1998). With
technology, students are able to stay motivated through the interesting and
preferred authentic materials that are available in the web.
REVIEW
As technology advances, the access to
the outer world is getting easier for everyone, including students. The advancement
of technology has opened up massive opportunities for language learners to
learn the target language in a faster rate, easier, and more interactive. In my
opinion, this research opens up a mentality to both teachers and students to
use computers and internet in the learning process, and not only using the traditional
method. Using traditional method is not wrong, however, if compared to the wide
opportunity by the technology, using computers and internet is more effective
and efficient for the students to learn the target language.
Throughout my experience in learning in
secondary school, the implementation of technology was not much. In my opinion,
current teachers came from a generation known as the “digital immigrants”,
where they are not taught on using computers. Due to this, they find it hard to
depend on computers and prefer using the method they are used to; the
traditional chalk and talk method. However, this research evidently shows the
advantages of what technology could do in language learning. The traditional
method is not wrong, however, it is not as efficient as it is more time
consuming, and boring. This research could convince teachers in Malaysia and
even in other countries that implementing technological materials in can make
the language learning faster, more interactive, and more entertaining for the
learners.
Other than that, the research can also
trigger initiative for the schools in Malaysia and even the government to
invest more on technological materials for language learning in the country. As
the advantages have been evidently stated through the research, an investment
on language learning softwares for the students can bring an improvement to the
quality of English learning among students. Other than that, this also opens up
opportunities to schools in rural areas that have minimal English and
technological exposure. As English is one of the least scored subjects in the
rural areas, this initiative could produce students with higher English proficiency
both in urban and rural areas.
