Prompt 3

Technology As a Tool of Language Learning


What challenges did Soares face when using blogs with her ESL students, and what lessons did she learn? How does she feel about using blogs with students in the future? Levy describes several types of technologies Choose one of them and describe how you might want to use it (or have used it), and discuss some of considerations that need to be taken when using this technology with ESL students.


Soare is an example of a teacher whose technology knowledge is somehow limited. She started navigating through blogs types to find a suitable one for both her students and classes. When she chose class blog , she expected her students' response posted on the blog but unfortunately, none of them did . She felt completely disappointed because they are not interactive. The students claimed that they are unable to solve tech. problems and not confident about getting
negative feedback from native speakers (readers) . They suggested to do and read posts during classes rather than at home. Her doubts and curiosity were ignited to lead her conducting PEPAs ( Potentially Exploitable Pedagogic Activity ). Any instructor can get the required information from students through certain activities and preserve the significance of learning target language. Again, students' production is still not motivated.

She tended to make online survey and found the key of those problems. First, blog is an optional teacher instrument used inside classroom facilitating teaching and learning processes. Second, students should be given an opportunity to express themselves to communicate desirably through the blog ( much focus is for real life situation interaction rather than focusing language accuracy).

Levy describes several technologies might be used with English language learner. I would use AI ( Artificial Intelligence) which has been ultimately developed to ICALL and then to a special ILTS (intelligent language tutoring system). It is designed to act as a tutoring human to adapt learner's need. Tutor module provides the demanded information to be taught to students via student model module. It is very complex , however, it is a dream if the tech. can convey and correct various ELL input errors as in NLP. It is very useful for written tasks .We have to take in our consideration that this type requires well equipped teacher who can deal with its (construction and interface) without the help of knowledge engineers. Finally, ILTS would greatly assist the teacher, facilitate learning target language and save efforts and time.

Haifa