Technology´s role in the ESL Classroom

Technology: A tool in the ESL Classroom

Teachers face new challenges in the classroom every day.  One of these challenges is that the English Language Learners are a constantly growing population.  ELLs like any other student are technologically equipped.  They know how to surf web pages and Facebook; they know how to use Wii and IPod among others.  At this time, students know and play with different technological toys, since they started Kindergarten.  When they use different gadgets, they seem very successful and enjoy what they do.  However, when it is the moment to read a text or pass a test, students show feelings of discomfort and apathy in the classroom.  So, the reflection is how teachers raise motivation and scores at the same time?

First, It is positive when the teacher knows students’ English proficiency levels because these alignments give a clear understanding of students’ needs.  At the same time the teacher will know what to expect of the students.  According to Teachers of English to Speakers to Other Languages (2006), each ESL student should be prepared to improve in four domains (listening, speaking, reading and writing).  Also, when it is the moment to plan a lesson, it is necessary to include the five levels of language proficiency (starting, emerging, developing, expanding and bridging). 

Second, differentiating instruction is a tool to recognize students’ individualities and that not all of them learn the same way.  The teacher’s job is basically to adjust different kinds of activities according to students’ levels.  Based on Sasson (2010), promote group work (pair, small groups).  In this way students can share information by clarifying and discussing.  Another way is to adjust the questions by taking into account Bloom’s taxonomy.  So, students will feel challenged and will understand the directions of a given assignment.

Third, if the teacher wants to catch students’ attention, it is necessary to modify the teaching strategy.  Students love to develop projects that call their attention for example using a Web Quest about animated cartoons.  They may also practice for a test using the computer or a game like Jeopardy.  There are computer programs or web sites that help ESL students; sometimes they feel more comfortable fixing their mistakes by themselves especially if they are adolescents.  They will not feel the judgment of the whole class when they are reading or writing in the middle of an assignment.  In the case of kindergarten or elementary students the internet offers a lot of activities to improve their spelling skills.

Finally, the teacher cannot deny the development of technology nowadays and should integrate it in activities that encourage the use of the language for diverse purposes and scenarios.  A clear example of a good web resource is Branch and Cheatham (2011) 50 ways to integrate technology in your classroom tomorrow.  This site shows multiple activities teachers can put into practice and adjust for the lesson plans.  Therefore, the use of PowerPoint presentations, audios, and videos are very advantageous for the ESL students. References

Branch, J., & Cheatham, A. (2011). 50 Ways to integrate technology in you classroom

          50-ways-to-anchor-technology. Retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/anchortechnologytomorrow/home/50-ways-to-anchor-technology. 

Sasson D. (2010, Jun 25). Using differentiated strategies to provide enrichment for

            ESLstudents. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/using-differentiated-

           strategies provide-enrichment-6269046.html

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (2006) PreK–12 english

           language proficiency standards framework.  Standards. Retrieved from

           http://www.tesol.org /s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=281&DID=13323#framework

  

Technology in Action 

WebQuest," as defined by Tom March, circa 2003 
"A WebQuest is a scaffolded learning structure that uses links to essential resources on the World Wide Web and an authentic task to motivate students’ investigation of a central, open-ended question, development of individual expertise and participation in a final group process that attempts to transform newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding. The best WebQuests do this in a way that inspires students to see richer thematic relationships, facilitate a contribution to the real world of learning and reflect on their own metacognitive processes."

The Role of Learning Styles, Learning Strategies for ELLs

View more PowerPoint from lumura5