Teaches students valuable tools for the future

It is clear that technology age has not only arrived, but it’s here to stay. In the future, the most basic tasks will require a high-level of technological skill. With that understanding, it is important to make sure that our students are well-versed in technological tools, skills and language.

The best way to make sure that students can keep up with the fast-paced advancements in technology is to give them continual experiences with the tools and programs available today.

After all, the goal of teaching ESL is to give students what they need to function in a global environment by teaching a global language. With that goal in mind, it is also important to consider that besides actually learning the English language, one of most important prerequisites to success in an English-speaking workplace or learning environment is the ability to navigate technology efficiently.

Can be a time saver for teachers

When advantages of incorporating technology in the classroom are examined, the advantages for educators are often overlooked or undermined. However, technological tools for teachers is a hot market all by itself and for good reason. Technology can be a huge time saver for teachers and can make some of the most difficult tasks quick and easy.

So, instead of viewing technology integration as one more thing to add to your fast-growing to-do list, look at it as a beneficial tool. Make the technology work for you!

Promotes learner independence

One of the greatest benefits of technology integration in education is the ability it offers for independent learning. Although technology can and does not replace an effective teacher, it does give students access to some of the supports that a teacher would provide.

Text-to-speech features or interactive textbooks enable students to read and enjoy books above their actual reading level by reading and defining unknown words. Online tutorials and apps like Knowmia allow students to access teacher tutorials in the comfort of their own home.

Provides students access to target culture

When learning a language, experience with the target culture helps to develop context and makes learning the language more meaningful. Thanks to technology, students can benefit from experiences to which they otherwise may not have access. Whether they are visiting social media sites, reading or listening to the news or participating in online discussions, these experiences are rich and meaningful.

Useful Technology Tools for the ESL Classroom

To help you get started with – or to further – your technology integration, here are a selection of valuable and convenient tools to use in your ESL classroom.

Content-specific tools

Comic Maker

Marvel.com has a comic maker that allows students to create their own characters and write their own comics. Comics are a great way to get in some entertaining reading and writing practice.

FluentU

FluentU immerses learners in English through videos and real-world interactions. It is especially helpful in that it gives students quality independent practice and offers valuable exposure in a way that is fun and appealing, yet effective.

Storybird

Storybird is another cool app that allows students to build stories using pictures and images. What an enjoyable way to motivate students of all ages to practice their reading and writing skills!

Startracker

Content area ESL teachers can look for tools that promote excitement about concepts and topics. Startracker is an augmented reality app that allows students to see what planets or constellations are visible from their homes. It’s an exciting app, even for non-educators!

Current Events

News ELA
News ELA is a fantastic tool to increase reading comprehension with current events. Each article is available in five different levels, so your entire class can read the same content, but at a level that’s best for each individual.

News in Levels

News in Levels is designed specifically for English learners, and it includes relevant videos with each article. It is also great in that readers can comment via Facebook on the articles for some insightful dialogue.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 883