BSED ENGLISH 3201

Technology Application 

 

Nowadays, Technology has a big part of our Education. In this time of pandemic, we learn how to cope up on the new technologies that are going out. Instead of having face to face classes, we do online classes to provide the education needs of our student. In able to have the solution on how we can start classes though we have COVID-19, we had the solution by keeping up technology in our lives. We can that it is so much better to use technology in this time of pandemic to have the education that we need instead of having academic freeze. 

 

There are many uses of technology in English Class. As an English student, I can verbally say that if we don’t have technology we can’t have this kind of knowledge. In our everyday English class, we are having online class through google meet and google classroom, that is because of technology. Aside from that, one of our professors give us a task to have a demo teaching using some technology application. And that time, I realize how necessary technology is. While I am doing my demo teaching, I can say that technology has a big part to English Class. It is a need that everyone must learn how to use it. English Class is fun with technology. 

 

While we are having our English Class with Ma’am Rej, I always feel amaze on how technology goes. That is how technology can affect one class, students are being enjoyed and at the same they learn. Technology proved that English Class can also be interesting all the time. 

According to the busyteacher.org, there are 10 modern ways to use technology in ESL classrooms so let us take a look at some of these strategies. First, Film and Video Using short and feature-length videos is an engaging way to work on skills like vocabulary and comprehension. Despite the fact that we are against the short attention span that the learners developed through learning materials that are quick and only require little attention, we could not deny that video clips work just as great in learning the English language. Film on the other hand is a considerable substitute for reading long novels that could be understood in just 2-3hrs of watching films. Second is Apps or applications. Apps on the student’s devices are very convenient and fun to use. Some of these apps that help in English language learning are duolingo– a web/mobile app where users can practice vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation using spaced repetition. Exercises can include written translation, reading and speaking comprehension, and short stories. Another example is Quiz your English, it is a fun new way to practice, improve, and test your English by competing against learners from all around the world.

Third way of using technology in English language learning is Podcasts, it is a digital audio file made available on the internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically. One of the theories of English language acquisition is the theory of interaction by Bruner(1960). This theory emphasizes the interaction between children and their care-givers, in this case the podcasters serve as care-givers to guide the learning process of the listeners without noticing it. Podcasts are also available on spotify, just subscribe to a good speaker that talks about the English language and topics that you like. It is like a whole class discussion in the palm of your hand. The students can also create their own podcast if they want to, in this way they can practice their English speaking skills and develop their knowledge. 

Fourth is Online Games Students can master spelling, grammar and other English skills by playing games on the computer or mobile devices. The teacher can also incorporate their lessons through these games. What a fun and exciting way to learn a new lesson by just playing and enjoying interactive graphics of the games. 

Lastly, Skype/GMeet there are more platforms with the same function but these two are the most popular. These are telecommunications applications best known for VoIP-based videotelephony, videoconferencing and voice calls. It also has instant messaging, file transfer, debit-based calls to landline and mobile telephones, and other features. These applications could help the students to communicate and hold their lessons wherever they are and whenever they want.

There is an unending possibility of how technology can be used in English language classes, with that we should strive to explore and not limit our knowledge about technology. 

SOURCES:

Aerisham. (n.d.). Carl Mitcham: Philosophizing About Technology: Why Should We Bother? ETHIX. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://ethix.org/2001/06/01/philosophizing-about-technology-why-should-we-bother

10 Modern Ways to Use Technology in ESL Instruction. (n.d.). Busy Teacher. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://busyteacher.org/13732-using-technology-esl-instruction-10-modern-ways.html

McLeod, S. (2019). Bruner - Learning Theory in Education. Simply Psychology. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html#:~:text=Bruner%20(1966)%20was%20concerned%20with,of%20thinking%20(or%20 representation)

 

 

                   I am a happy person. The type that even though there are too many problems, you can hide it just because your personality is happy. I don't eat vegetables. Since I was really young, I haven't eaten vegetables because they taste bad for me. My passion is to sing and dance. Many people tell me that I am very talented because I already know how to sing and then I also know how to dance. I have no interest in sports, my only interest is watching sports. I also like to watch kdrama. By watching kdrama I forget my problems here at home. Now that I’m in college, I like what my classmates call me. They call me "moana" because of my brown skin color and my curly hair that really looks like moana. One time during our face to face class, I was called for our individual front presentation. That's when we rap a rap that our professor memorizes for us so that we can get used to speaking English fast. He saw me and then he said "you look like an artist" I was surprised because I look like an artist. He told our whole class that I look like zendaya. Then it just so happened that he couldn't pronounce my name zhainnah properly, so he said he would just call me zendaya. And just cute and heart fattening. This 3rd year, is the most difficult for me. It just so happened that my mom went to school again and then my youngest brother also started school. And I have a brother who is doing modules. I'm the one who takes care of their school activities and then I keep mine. So I really got to the point where I was losing weight, not eating properly and right on time, which was stressful to me. All these experiences I have until now I have not told my parents. And why would I? I can't open up to them because I know in myself that they do not care. There was a time when I was taking an online class, I was doing laundry while I watched my brother eat. My parents both have jobs so as a eldest I have the responsibility of everything. I got to the point of 2nd sem and then I thought I had stopped studying, I just couldn't tell my parents. I am having a hard time with my situation. Especially here in our area there is always no electricity and also no proper signal. 

                  

                  Now I’m sorting out the requirements that I didn’t pass before. I'm just really thankful and I can still pass on activities that haven't been done. Until this day, I still struggle with stress and anxiety. I don't want to check up because I'm scared, so I'd rather not tell them. I said at first that I was a shy person. So I'd rather keep my problems at my self than tell others, that I know they're not really interested. I’m very happy that even though I struggle a lot this year I still handle everything.  I’m thankful and I also admire myself. Why? because I have tried to commit suicide several times. It's like this activity just got me out of my problem. 

 

According to Sharma (2021), integrating technology in the teaching of language will be successful if the technology the teacher will use is accessible and easy to use by the students. In his journal, he shared that in helping students listen, read, write, and speak the language, there are some applications and programs that can be used. For instance, in assessing how the students listen to the language, Sharma suggested using youtube videos as references, specifically he recommended the videos of TED.com. Also, in reading, when presenting a report or an activity, instead of using the usual PPT, students can utilize the interactive application such as Kahoot. Google slide deck is also a win for presentations. In writing, on the other hand, Sharma suggested using the Padlet which encourages the students to write on the board and collaborate with other students. He also added that technology can help students in a variety of ways when it comes to learning the language. 

There are actually a pool of technological tools that teachers and students can use to aid in teaching and learning the language. Some of my own favorite applications and programs to use in my demo teaching are the Kahoot, Quizziz, Nearpod, and Mentimeter. I’ve also learned a lot of websites that can help me in making teaching materials, which I am thankful for. I get to have different options on where I can do my assignments and projects as well. Even in managing the tasks, technology helped me best. 

Other than online programs, computers/tablets and e-readers are very useful in learning language (BusyTeacher.org). We have to admit that time will come that our students will no longer rely on their pen and paper, and teachers will no longer use blackboards. Our era is for advanced technology, thus the practice of teaching the language should be integrative to technology. 

References: 

Sharma, P. S. (2021, October 29). A teacher’s experience of. . . using technology in language teaching. World of Better Learning. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2021/10/29/technology-language-teaching/

BusyTeacher.org. (n.d.). Busy Teacher. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://m.busyteacher.org/13732-using-technology-esl-instruction-10-modern-ways.html

Levinson, M. (2013, May 29). Technology in Schools: Defining the Terms. GEORGE LUCAS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/tech-in-schools-defining-terms-matt-levinson

Special thanks as well for Ma’am Redzh, my most favorite professor, who had been accompanying us from the start of our college journey as a class adviser or sometimes being our prof. in many different courses each semester and now our professor in Campus Journalism and Technological Application. Ma’am thank you very much for being our role model and introducing us to many technological applications, websites, and also instructional materials that are very helpful for us as a feature educators who will be using them when we become professional teachers to become productive, effective and proficient when teaching. You have taught us how to make our teachings enjoyable while the students are learning with the use of the various technological applications, websites, instructional materials and platforms that are very educational and will ensure that students will learn when we integrate it with our teachings. We have learned how important and how vital the role of technological applications is in our everyday lives not only as students but also as teachers. 

When I first started my journey as a college student I was introduced to a variety of technological applications that are usually used in our class activities and sessions, of course being someone who came from the province of Occidental Mindoro I lack the knowledge of how to use and for what are these technological applications are used for and I struggled and get confused since in High School we are not trained or very much introduced on how to use these kind of applications, what we usually use are the powerpoint presentation and the google docs which shows how advance and big the gap of the learning environment we recieve of that from the cities than the provinces. The impact of the realization of how important and vital the role it plays in my studies and everyday life makes me realize that I must learn how to apply and use them specially when the pandemic comes. It plays a big role for our long distance learning in the safety of our homes. We use Google Meet on our online classes to have our class discussions and have interactions and do activities just like having face-to-face but on virtual platforms. We use Google Classrooms to serve as our virtual class room for the different courses where the teachers post instructional materials or class resources, to post assignments, quizzes, activities, projects and major exams. The Google Docs for the type written activities. The Google Slides and Jamboard for creating a creative presentation or doing our group or individual activities and have collaborations. Google calendars that serve to remind us of the schedule of our classes or deadlines of activities or school events. Nearpod, Quizziz, Edpuzzle for the evaluations and quizzes of our learnings. Google forms for evaluation, examinations, feedback, activities and other purposes. There are lots of other technological applications that are introduced and to serve to help us in a productive, interactive, collaborative way to better our learning environments even if we don’t have face-to-face classes. This is how important and vital the role and use and integration of these technological applications are in our education.