I.C.T. and ELT

Ana M. Bello CarriónI.E.S. “Fuente Juncal” – Aljaraque

Huelva

The rapid development of computer technology offers anyone willing to learn foreign languages countless ways to acquire and practise linguistic knowledge. English teachers have a chance to employ this magic tool during their lessons (or wherever possible) and make the process of learning attractive, challenging and varied for their students. However there are loads of questions and problems that might burden all teachers who decide to place their

students in front of computer screens

How have computers

changed our lives?

School and I.C.T.

New vocabulary, new expressions, new words... Young

people create new ways of communication, like sms,

messages in mobile phones, or their “interesting” typing in emails and chats, a way to

shorten and exchange information as quick as possible.

Adults, and , overall, teachers cannot turn our backs on it. We

should learn from them.

Teachers must be good at solving problems that we

will face during our lessons. We are supposed to have a wide and general knowledge about everything , we are

supposed to be like technical supermen and

superwomen.But, are we?

As teachers, we have to decide the correct use of computers

and ICT at school. We shouldn’t forget that other

tools exist ( text books, readers, songs, films, magazines...) and our students should experience these “old” resources as well.

Cartoons taken from

www.glasbergen.com

Ana M. Bello Carrión October, 2006

Huelva