Technology in language learning within educational centres is not the future, but the present of education. The use of new technology in the classroom has become the perfect complement to mastering or gaining command of a language, and English courses accompanied by technological support are the most effective and attractive to students who want to be successful in their learning.
Technology in language learning at the service of teachers
#1 The best complementary tool for teachers in the classroom
Educational technology today is advantageous for teachers in so many ways. Traditional education is not so efficient anymore and teachers need to motivate their students more than ever when presenting any material in the classroom. Books are taking a back seat and new technology means that classes can be much richer in content and more participative than before.
The Why Teacher Training is a Key Factor in Eduactional Excellence methodology from Dexway helps educational centres to implement a blended learning method that has demonstrated great success in the classroom. It equips the teacher with a complete manual on giving face-to-face English classes, with unlimited exercises and activities for all levels and lessons, with the objective that the students are much more active and involved in the classroom.
#2 Technology in language learning is motivating and stimulating for students
The use of technology as much in the classroom as outside it makes the students feel much more motivated, using devices with which they can practice a language through features such as voice recognition and interactive multimedia exercises etc. For young students it’s much more stimulating to learn with a tablet or smartphone than with a traditional textbook and its CD of practice exercises. Technology in language learning transforms students from passive recipients to active learners and allows more profound and enriching linguistic immersion. Students can study their English course using a variety of comprehensive apps which are able to synchronize even without the internet.
#3 Ease in managing and monitoring student progress
Making and keeping lists of groups of students, managing courses, evaluating students with tests and exams, and many other tasks which are administrative in nature, are these days managed thanks to online educational platforms which offer innumerable functionalities tailored to educational centres’ needs.
Not only do they give educational institutions the best and most effective control over activities such as activating student accounts, creating groups, sending out communications and automatic notifications etc., but also they can perform important tasks such as monitoring the progress of students through specialised software.
Dexway has developed the Create Test function which allows teachers to design their tests, partially or fully, from a menu of questions in the database the same as he or she could create him/herself.
Subsequently, when the students have taken these tests, they can be run through Dexway Analytics in order to obtain real time reports on the results of each course, lesson or objective. This way it can be seen if objectives have been attained in order to suggest activities or exercises to revise in the classroom.
Learning English in a classroom is much more effective when complemented with educational technology
#4 Create a unique experience as much for the teacher as the students
The flipped classroom method in English courses, along with technology in language learning to complement it, is turning English classrooms into an environment where sharing, debating, creating and forming opinions is nurtured, a space which is much more creative and participatory. English classes stop being boring and bland with a teacher merely explaining something at a blackboard, and become much more active in all senses.
Learning is better with virtual whiteboards, the students are a lot more involved, and online exercises and interactive multimedia content are motivating for them.
#5 Promote interactivity and collaboration within learning
The use of new technology allows students to be much more creative and participative in the classroom. They prepare a basis of knowledge outside the classroom engaging with all the content in the course, when they arrive to the classroom they share this knowledge with the rest of the students and the teacher to demonstrate what they have learnt and reinforce it in a coordinated way.
Educational technology allows students to be much better prepared for class, and provides teachers with attractive resources to make their classes much more human and sociable, where all students have the opportunity to participate regardless of their level.
When used alongside traditional teaching, new technology can differentiate between educational centres, taking English teaching one step further in paying attention to diversity in the classroom and enriching the language learning process.
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