Ôèëîëîãè÷åñêèå íàóêè / 1.Ìåòîäèêà  ïðåïîäàâàíèÿ ÿçûêà è ëèòåðàòóðû

Sergij Tschornyj, Olena Tschorna

Kirovohrad, Ukraine

 

Internet-Based English Teaching

 

The paper surveys advantages of using computer technologies while teaching English, with special emphasis on computer-based and on-line tools.

Keywords : Internet-based resourses, Information and Communication Technology, EFL learners, vocabulary exercises, computer-based dictionary.

 

Contemporary society is getting more and more computer-based, where students are the most sensitive group, as they “are growing up with technology, which is a natural and integrated part of their lives” [2, p. 7]. “This phenomenal explosion of technology has now given educational institutions new tools to carry out the mission in ways never conceived before” [3, p. 13].  The objective of this article is to discuss benefits of using on-line resourses in teaching English.

Computer-based materials for language teaching, often referred to as as CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning), appeared in the early 1980-s. As access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become more widespread, so CALL has moved beyond the use of computer programs to embrace the use of the Internet and web-based tools [2, p. 7].

In the meantime, even those Ukrainian schools and Universities which are well-equipped with computers, lack possibilities to provide each students with a computer at an English lesson. In such situation Internet-based resourses solve most questions. Here are main reasons (as summarised by G. Dudeney, N. Hockly, M. K. Agarwal ) which stress the importance of Web-based resources in up-to-date English teaching and learning:

1) Interrnet access is becoming increasibly available to learners;

2) Web-based activities allow the teacher to quickly give all students certain information and to obtain information from the students quickly, too;

3) Technology, especially the Internet presents us with new opportunities for authentic tasks and materials, as well as access to a wealth of ready-made ELT materials;

4) Technology offers new ways for practising language and assessing performance;

5) It is ncreasingly mobile (can also be used at home, on the way to school or University and in Internet cafes);

6) These tools give learners practice in all four main language skills – speaking, listening, writing and reading

7) It leads to autonomy, as learners control exercises regarding the learning process with the appropriate difficulty level and at their own pace, getting little dependent on a teacher  [1, p. 4; 2, p. 7–8].

Writing is supposed to be the most difficult activities for EFL learners, and students often need more practise in these, while instructors are pressed with time and topics which should be covered within a certain period. Writing, especially academic writing should be taught as a separate subject, which is not the case at many language departments. We typically devote some15 minutes of a lesson to explain basics of writing an essay or resume, but it is well understood that students need much training.

They require detailed explanation on composition, paragraph writing, creating a logical thesis, developing topical sentences and providing supporting details. Internet-based resourses seem to be a good solution in that.

Apart from reading a lot of theory, learner can look through a number of more or less successive essays and make their own conclusions on what promotes qualified writing.

Here is an example of an online-resource which can support students when they are given a corresponding task (see Pict. 1; taken from http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/thesis.html).

 

 

 

Picture 1

On-line guide on writing essays

The same is true with teaching how to compose an e-mail, resume, complaint letter, thank-you note, greeting card, etc.

One more problem students should be taught to solve is selecting appropriate words. It seems to be a good idea to refer to a respective English-English dictionary, especially a computer- or Internet-based one.

Such resources provide learners with much more than word meanings – one can look at lexeme in the context, choose correct preposition, find out the word origin and style reference.

This is an example of The LONGMAN Dictionary of Contemporary English, 2006 [4], electronic version (see Pict. 2).

Picture 2

Computer-based English-English dictionary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moreover, contemporary dicitionaries are supported with writing assistants and vocabulary exercises. The latter serve to differentiate among synonyms (with explanation and examples), to train spelling and check semantic and grammar rules of making phrases (see Pict. 3).Internet sites provide a lot of vocabulary activities, many of which can be downloaded and printed (e.g. Pict. 4, taken from http://www.englishwsheets.com/hobbies-1.html).

 

Picture 3                                                    Picture 4

Longman computer-based                                Internet ready-made

writing assistant                                                vocabulary exercises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those which can be done on-line are good motivating tools for starting a new topic and can be given as a home assessment (e.g. Pict. 5, taken from http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/mix_words.htm).

 

 

 


Picture 5

On-line vocabulary activities

 

 

Thus, Ineternet-based resources suggest a lot of benefits for a computer-friendly teacher. These are time-saving, easy student-motivating, on-line assessment, possibilities for distant and independent learning.

 

 

 

References

1. Agarwal M. K. Internet-Based Language Learning and Teaching [Electronic source] / M. K. Agarwal // Innovative Infotechnologies for Science, Business and Education. – 2010. – Vol. 1 (8). – P. 3–7. – Access mode : http://journal.kolegija.lt/turinys/Agarwal-3-7-%20IITSBE-2010-1(8).pdf.

2. Dudeney G. How to Teach English with Technology / Gavin Dudeney, Nicky Hockly. – Harlow : Pearson, 2007. – 192 p.

3. Sankaran S. R. Effectiveness of Web-Based Instruction for ESL Students : An Empirical Study with Focus on Gender, Ethnicity and Instructional Media [Electronic source] / S. R. Sankaran, T. X. Bui // Journal of Information Systems Education. –  1999. – P. 13–19. – Access mode : http://jise.org/Volume10/Pdf/Vol%202%20Pg %2013.pdf.

4. The LONGMAN Dictionary of Contemporary English / Managing edit. Ch. Fox. – 5‑th edition. – Italy : La Tipografica Varese, 2006. – 1950 p. (computer-based version).