Teaching with Technology

Article #8 There are three reasons why writing is very important in the instruction of second language learners, (1) it is important for academic success, (2) it is an effective tool for the development of language proficiency, and (3) it helps learners raise their awareness about different subject matters.  Blogs have the ability to address the needs […]

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Article #7 The importance of listening in language learning is often overlooked because human beings have a tendency to look at speaking as the major index of language proficiency, when it is actually listening competence that is larger than speaking competence.  If you look back over the past decades you will notice that language-teaching methodology […]

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Article #6 Who are Generation 1.5 students? Generation 1.5 students immigrated to the United States during elementary school or high school or they are students born in this country but grew up speaking a language other than English at home.   They are called Generation 1.5 because their identity is combination of new and old culture […]

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Article #5 Many language teachers are still skeptical about whether or not a blended language learning class  (hybrid) or , or a completely distance-learning language class, can provide second language learners with the oral skills they need to achieve linguistic proficiency.  This article examines a case study involving both a hybrid and distance-learning first-year language course.  The curriculum […]

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Article #4 The use of podcasting to improve pronunciation in second language learners is an option being used by language educators to practice speaking skills outside of the classroom.  Language learners struggle with pronunciation errors and are often judged by native speakers because of their non-native like way of speaking.   Language teachers are often reluctant […]

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Article #3 The Internet has introduced a world of collaborative opportunities to language educators.   Language teachers utilize many familiar tools such email, discussion forums, chat, blogs, and wikis to promote online collaborative opportunities for language learners.  XML (extensible markup language) helps language teacher’s link documents to the students in their classes and is recognized as […]

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Article #2 In addition to language barriers, second language learners must also deal with cultural barriers.  Far too many second language educators take this fact for granted.  There are more than five million students in U.S. schools for whom English is their second language and “their instructional needs are multiple and complex (Meskill 47).  However, […]

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Familiarize your L2 learners with websites and activities that will strengthen their communicative skills.  This is a good teaching idea because it helps everyone in the class with technical language and helps those that are visual learners.   Using the internet as a pedagogical resource will allow student to become connected to other users.  Also, introduce  students […]

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Living in a networked society enables second language (L2) learners to exchange information and explore ideas with many different culturally diverse people.  Merging formal and informal education practices is an ideal situation for L2 learners in today’s society as well as for educators.  Creating an environment such as affinity spaces in second language learning is […]

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Article #1 Bringing about changes in second language acquisition during the 21stcentury should be the motivation that drives technological research.  The language teacher should strive to make the student more independent and confident in the transition between acquisition and learning the target language.  The distinction between the two is fully achieved when the language learner […]

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