Teaching and learning the English language: creating a “smart” classroom

The advancement of educational technology

With educational technology advancing at what sometimes seems like an alarming rate, its application in the English language learning classroom seems almost imminent. What is even more intriguing is the early acceptance and adaptation of our students to the incorporation of new technologies in their daily lives. In many cultures around the world, most young people over the age of 15 have their own personal cell phone or ipod, palm C or mini-memory stick combined multi-purpose electronic device. In fact, it seems that it’s the “old fools” who don’t have cell phones and pocket electronics as a part of their lives. So what’s a smart educational administrator to do? Find ways to incorporate and take advantage of these new technologies in the English language learning classroom, that’s all.

Oh, but the expense, the confusion, the hassle and did I mention the expense of doing it? What about that? Growth hurts. If we want to keep the field of language education at the forefront where it belongs in this age of global communications, international business, and global economies involving multiple countries, we must address the changing face of global trade and communications, technology, and its a growing impact on education.

A “smart” classroom

But what is a “smart” classroom? Opinions about what elements of educational technology exist in such an entity will of course vary, but some key aspects are generally accepted. Let’s examine some of them and their respective purposes.

o A smart board

o Laser/digital pointer

Printer

o Computers with multimedia software

where the internet access

o CD/DVD player/recorder

or make video

o VHS player/recorder

o Multiband AM/FM radio receiver

o Widescreen TV with cable channels

o Interface device(s) for teacher-to-student digital sources

o Laptop PCs, Palm Pilots or iPod devices for each language learner

o Direct access to the server and storage capacity

Ok, now you should be understanding the image. While many or even all of these devices can significantly affect the English language teaching and learning process, ultimately it is the teacher who must negotiate their application to the needs of the students to complete the curriculum requirements. More educational technology doesn’t necessarily make for a better English teacher or even better English language instruction, but it very well could if applied strategically.

English teachers need to be better equipped

Initially, many of our English students would be better equipped to handle these emerging new technologies than many of their language teachers. The most important thing, then, is to equip English teachers with the essential knowledge and skills to cope with an infusion of high technology. Many language students would also have to catch up on applying new technologies to learning the English language. Although in no way these new educational technologies affect only the classrooms for teaching and learning the English language. As conditions (and budgets) allow, educational administrators can and should update classrooms and language teachers’ knowledge of the application of new educational technologies.

While virtually no classroom is likely to contain all of the equipment mentioned above, we as English language teaching professionals can still learn, grow, and dream.