Modern technology keeps language students engaged. This is because of features such as interactive multimedia exercises and tools that encourage collaboration.
Students can also break away from textbooks that often feature outdated topics and graphics with new technology. This way they can discover real-life English materials that spark their interest and boost their learning.
1. Boosts Motivation
In the globalized world of today, proficiency in English has become essential for success in academic, professional, and social interactions. Research has explored the role of digital technology in improving attitudinal change and sustainable learning for language learners.
In classrooms using new technology, students are able to communicate with each other through text chat and conduct live pair or group conversation sessions online regardless of time and location. This type of collaborative learning experience is a highly motivating factor for students.
Unlike traditional textbooks, which are often out of date and offer static examples, digital technology provides learners with access to natural language materials and resources. This allows learners to see that their needs are being prioritized and that they have a bespoke learning journey ahead of them.
2. Engages Students
Students can engage with technology and learn new ways of communicating. Teachers can use technology to engage with their students too, by facilitating interactions with language learners from near and far.
The right technology can help students build confidence, cultural knowledge and situational awareness. But it’s important to remember that great tech is not a replacement for human interaction.
For example, incorporating language learning apps and integrations with voice recognition tools can allow students to practice their pronunciation and receive instant feedback and scoring. This transforms them from passive recipients to active learners who are motivated to keep practicing and learn more. They can do this anytime, day or night.
3. Enhances Communication
Learning a language can be intimidating. But fear and struggles shouldn’t be an excuse to stop trying. There are many solutions to help you overcome the obstacles and achieve your language goals.
Using new technology in language learning improves students’ communication by enabling them to interact with native speakers online and practice their speaking skills on a regular basis. It also helps them improve their pronunciation and gain confidence.
Furthermore, language learning technology enables students to access their materials anytime, day or night. This flexibility allows them to fit their learning around their busy schedules. Therefore, it makes them more motivated to study when they know they can learn whenever and however they like.
4. Enhances Learning Outcomes
While it’s hard to replicate in-person immersion, technology can offer students access to real-life English materials that spark interest and boost language skills. These resources are accessible on any device, anywhere in the world.
It also helps students to delve deeper into topics that they find interesting and relevant to their lives. This type of learning is often called Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL).
Blended language learning has become an option that top pedagogical experts endorse for boosting student engagement. It combines classroom teaching with online instruction, transforming the instructor’s role from teacher to facilitator. Students complete structured and comprehensive eLearning modules and then participate in classroom discussions that help them overcome their own language weaknesses rather than relying on rote learning.
5. Enhances Collaboration
It’s no secret that using technology to enhance language learning has become an essential tool for instructors. However, some teachers are still reluctant to embrace this new age of language teaching methods.
Using new tech in the classroom creates an interactive learning environment that helps students learn from each other and develop their English skills at an individualized pace. This intuitive model is much more effective and engaging than traditional education.
Moreover, online learning is convenient for busy students who may have to travel or work. Digital learning resources can be accessed at any time, day or night, to fit into any schedule.
6. Increases Accessibility
Learning language is a personal endeavor for many, driven by desire to travel, communicate or pursue career opportunities. Incorporating new technology into classrooms allows students to learn at their own pace and interact with peers and native speakers on a global scale.
New technology also allows learners to engage with real-life situations and challenges that they would not find in traditional classrooms, such as practicing pronunciation by recording themselves or asking questions via text chatting. This makes the process of learning more accessible and enables a greater number of students to realize their linguistic potential.