Getting digital: Tips and tools for English language teachers in Rwanda

Felix KwihanganaLecturer, IPRC Kigali

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In this presentation…

Benefits of Technology use in language teaching

The Challenges of teaching English with Technology

Suggested tools and tips 2

Questions for ReflectionHow are we preparing our students for

the digital age?What role do modern technologies play in

our own learning and teaching of English?Do we have access to any technology

tools worth exploring for English learning?Do we blame our lack of skills for not

using technology in our own learning and teaching? 3

Benefits of Technology use in language teaching

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A quote to start with…

• “Among some of the most pertinent reasons for using ICT in the classroom is the ability to better prepare the current generation of students for a workplace where ICT tools such as computers, Internet and other related technologies, are becoming ever more present.” Mineduc 2008, ICT Policy in Education; p.19. 5

An English teacher’s pursuit…

Source: Nomass, B. B. (2013) The Impact of Using Technology in Teaching English as a Second Language, English Language and Literature Studies; Vol. 3, No. 1 p.112

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What we know…Today’s Learners are “digital natives” (Prensky,

2001). Will the English class become their “alien” world?

in March 2015, just over 55% of the most visited websites had English-language homepages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_used_on_the_Internet )

Teaching without technology is not necessarily bad or damaging the students, it just delays their progress and limits what teachers can do. (Hyamlee & Phil, 2012 ) 7

Implications?....technology will continue to develop even if we,

teachers of English, continue to ignore and we may never be able to catch up.

“technological literacy and the ability to use ICT, effectively and efficiently, have become prerequisites for having a competitive edge in an increasingly globalizing job market.” (Mineduc, 2008)

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Contextualizing Language

Technology makes it easier to contextualize language

teaching integrated skills in context (e.g matching word meanings with body language)

Technology affords context-based teacher-student and student-student interactions 9

Contextualizing Language

• technology offers authentic learning materials.

• Authentic environment for learning English

• Technology overcomes the lack of authentic language environment. (Students can learn while chatting with their teacher on Facebook using English)

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Improving the Teaching Effect

• Technology breaks the “teacher-centred” teaching pattern and improves class efficiency. • Makes it easier to manage large classes and

provide feedback Peer feedback

• Technology turns class time limitations into learning opportunities.

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Improving the Teaching Effect (Cont’d)Learning becomes fun and enjoyable

Enhances students’ interest and motivation for learning activities

Stimulates students’ initiatives (more exposure, more risk-taking)

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Teacher-Student InteractionsEnhances the importance of “interaction”

between teachers and students. Develop Learner autonomy The teacher’s facilitator role is reinforced.Creates a good platform for the exchange

between teachers and students.

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Teacher-Student Interactions (Cont’d)

“Students often feel discouraged in a classroom setting because falling behind can be embarrassing and discouraging. But with a course that incorporates technology and learning English, students can learn with privacy and learn the vital skills of success.” • (

http://www.tefl-online.com/online-tefl-articles/technology-learning-english.php)

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Developing Intercultural competence

1) Language is a cultural product

2) Technology enhances intercultural awareness for teachers and students

3) Learning about the English Culture through podcasts, videos, etc.

4) Developing interest in the English culture (A motivation to learn a foreign language)

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Flexible learning

• Flexibility in time and space• Flexibility to course content format (video, podcast,

link to webpages, online exercises?) • The teacher’s role (guide, co-learner, provider of

knowledge?) • Learner-centeredness: Students get more

responsibilities

• Flexibility in the teacher-student interactions (chats, email, comment on wiki, WhatsApp message?). 16

Lifelong skills acquisition –Digital Literacy

Information selection and filtering

Self-confidence and critical thinking skills enhanced.

Experience is the best teacher: Teachers & Students improve their skills all along 17

Technology: A busy Teacher’s friend?

“We are living in an era of information explosion where there is no dearth of information. Net sources are very useful if used in proper way”.Tamilarasan & Narayanan (2014: 509).

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Technology: A busy Teacher’s friend?

Ready-made lesson plans and templatesFull Lesson demonstrations (see YouTube)Teaching tips (in text and videos, just

google it)Authentic materials: Games, news

articles, jokes, videos, podcasts, etc.Reading materials for teachers & studentsReady-made tests (handle with care) 19

The Challenges of Teaching English with Technology

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“We have met the enemy and he is us” Hokanson, B., & Hooper, S. (2004).

•You were trained to be a teacher, the technology wasn’t.•“Playing it lazy”: there’s the ready-made • Remember: “Even when it goes wild, You’re still

the teacher!

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Misinterpretation of the role of technology

• Technology as a tool to an end, not an end in itself • technology is not a replacement for the

teacher• Teachers are central to what happens in

the classroom (Motteram 2013: 177) • “Technology cannot replace the

dominant role of teachers … it is part of a complete teaching process.” (Hyamlee & Phil, p.154) 22

More obstacles…

• “many instructors do not understand how to use the new technologies” (Lee, 2000: n.p.)

• ‘situational constraints’ - lack of resources (Basturkmen, 2012: 268)

• Beliefs- beliefs make the same technology a blessing or a curse depending on individuals. (Ertmer, 2005)

• Lack of self-confident23

Tools and Suggestions to try out

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Fancy the readymade?• Lesson Plans for teachers, templates,

activities• www.go4english.com ,

www.onestopenglish.com • www.1-language.com

• www.worldenglishclub.com . • Google it in “” to limit the search results • Lesson demos (YouTube) Learn & Teach

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Reading & Vocabulary building?

Mobile Apps for Reading• English short stories• TOEFL Reading• Ebook Reader (Classics like the Illiad, • Oodles Free eBooks (Fantasy, love, Poetry, etc.)

• News websites and Applications (BBC, Guardian, etc.)• http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/ • What can you do with that?

Provide a variety of reading materials and tasksStudents choose what to read and share it with the class.

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Reading skills & Vocabulary building? Cont’d

• The Merriam-Webster Dictionary Definitions TranscriptionAudio pronunciation (when connected)SynonymsAntonymsWord history (origin, first useFREEE!! 27

Listening tools and suggestions

• Applications and platforms : YouTube, Dailymotion, TeacherTube, etc

• Podcasts, the BBC, NPR, etc.• Songs with lyrics http://www.eslvideo.com/ • Mobile Applications• LearnEnglish Audio and Video• Real English Business• Two min English

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Developing listening skills with TED Talk• Website and Mobile App• Different lengths (3-20 minutes)• A wide range of topics, science, technology, history,

comedy, entertainment, etc. • Can enable or disable Subtitles • Give students the task• Watch the video at home with/out the subtitles or

download it as an mp3, if possible, organize speaking activities around.

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Tools to develop writingWikis (www.wikispaces.com; www.pbworks.com )

Great for collaborative writing)Social Media (Facebook, Twitter)WhatsApp

BenefitsGood tool for NoticingActive learningSelf and Peer-correctionEasy to give feedbackPossibility to follow-up feedback uptake

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Autonomy and peer-correction

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Tools to develop Speaking • WhatsApp (recording and sending recorded messages)• Vocaroo (http://vocaroo.com/ ) (save, upload, share

recordings, create links & QR codes)• Ipadio: record and edit audio, addg titles, descriptions,

images; upload to www.ipadio.com ; post to Twitter, Facebook or blog.• Get students record something and (short story, chapter in

a book, a dialogue, a joke, etc). • Let them email it, share it with you or post it on the class

Facebook group or wiki.

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Mind your own professional development?

• Plenty of resources for professional development• Online Communities of Practice? (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.)• Learn and Improve with Coursera (

https://www.coursera.org/ ) or Mobile App• Many Free courses from top universities (Harvard,

Stanford, Cambridge, etc.)• Teaching Methodology, Psychology, Philosophy, Poetry, ICT,

Writing techniques• English for Teaching Purposes

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Now that we know, so off we go!

Not so fast! • Start small, one step at time• Use what you already know about or something

similar• Join professional groups share tips and ask for

advice• Don’t be overconfident, be realistic• Beware of challenges: There’s always surprises;

some of which are not wished for• Learn , learn, learn!

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Some key considerations….• Ask the right Questions

What Do I want to do? What technologies are available for doing that? What technology can help me do it better? Why am I really going to use this technology?

to impress students and colleagues? to please the employer? because others are doing it?to achieve instructional objectives? 35

Other Considerations…

1. Is it being used by others?

2. How well is it being used?

3. What factors could affecting its use?

4. What outcomes do I expect?

5. Are you comfortable using it?Hall, G. E. (2010) Technology’s Achilles Heel: Achieving High-Quality Implementation. Journal of Research on Technology in Education. 42/3, pp. 231–253. 36

A quote to end with…

Communications technology has fundamentally changed the way people live, work and interact socially, and we in Rwanda have no intention of left behind or standing still as the rest of the globe moves forward at an ever increasing pace. Some might say that we are overarching but with a positive outlook, strategic work and support from our partners, I am fully confident that we can exploit the potential of ICT in order to achieve our vision of a modern economy for Rwanda and a secure and prosperous future for all”, His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda. Mineduc 2008, ICT in

Education Policy, p.10

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You can go digital now.

Thank You!

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References• Hyamlee1, Phil, M. (2012) “Use of Technology in English Language Teaching and Learning”: An Analysis.

2012 International Conference on Language, Medias and Culture. IPEDR vol.33 (2012) pp. 150-156

• Mineduc (2008). ICT Policy in Education, Kigali.• Nomass, B. B. (2013) The Impact of Using Technology in Teaching English as a Second

Language, English Language and Literature Studies; Vol. 3, No. 1 p.112• Tamilarasan & Narayanan (2014). The Advantages of Technology in Teaching English

Language. Proceedings of the International Conference on Trends and Innovations in Language Teaching. – TILT 2014.

• Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants part 1. On the horizon, 9(5), 1-6.• Hokanson, B., & Hooper, S. (2004). Integrating Technology in Classrooms: We have met

the enemy and he is us. Association for Educational Communications and Technology.• Basturkmen, H. (2012). Review of research into the correspondence between language

teachers' stated beliefs and practices. System, 40(2), 282-295.• Motteram , G. ( 2013) Developing and extending our understanding of language learning

and technology, in Motteram (ed) Innovations in learning technologies for English language teaching. London: Brtiish council.

• http://www.tefl-online.com/online-tefl-articles/technology-learning-english.php • http://www.tefl-online.com/online-tefl-articles/technology-learning-english.php

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