I just want to share my opinion on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in English Language Teaching in the specific context of third world countries. When we say that Education in a country has changed thanks to the use of ICTs, we should consider:
- Wheather or not a third world country educational system is prepared for using Information and Communication Technologies when teaching English.
- Advantages and disadvantages of using Information and Communciation Technologies in a third world society.
In my opinion, it is probable that a third world educational system is prepared for using Information and Communciation technologies to learn English. However, it should be taken into account that not all institutions are prepared for it given the way languages are taught. I mean, public schools have to change the methodology used to teach English in order that they can include ICTs in English teaching classes.
Now, why am I stating these words?
Well, I studied in a public school in Colombia, and I do think there is something wrong with the way English is taught not only in my former school but also in all schools that give education for free in my country. To be frank, when I entered my secondary school, my parents thought it was the best decision they had made. That is because, in my country, big public schools are considered to give good education and upbringing. Despite this, my English classes were given in Spanish all the time, and teachers used to teach the same "verb to be" conjugation year after year...and I'm not kidding, but we never knew what "the verb to be" was.
Currently, I teach English to some students from private schools and let me tell you, that is a kind of different world concerning to English teaching. There, students are taught in English all the time, that is, the new language is a tool to learn, not a set of the same grammar rules without any sense. Moreover, private schools give classes in English from the very beginning. Therefore, students acquire the language instead of larning it, and that is something that makes faster and easier the process of using another language.
As a conclusion, I dare to say that although private schools are prepared for using Information and Communication Technologies in English language teaching classes, there is too much left for public schools as they are able to make a good use of those technologies during English classes. That is because, while in a private school students could be using a specific software to gain more information about a specific subject matter along with the supervision of the teacher, in a public school, the students could be looking for the same grammar structure they have been learning during many years on the Internet, and with the teacher sitting in a chair keeping an eye on students given the case they cause damage to something.
If we want all schools in a third world country such Colombia to make use of Infomation and Communciation Technologies, then we need to change the way English is taught and bring into awareness that lerning English is more that learning senseless structures that will not help in the process of using a second language.
In order to give my opinion on the advantages and disadvantages of using ICTs in a third world society, I have added a Power Point Presentation. I hope you like it:
