Technology in the Foreign Language Classroom

Technology is an absolutely essential part of every classroom, including foreign language classrooms. In fact, I think that the foreign language classroom receives more benefit from technology than many other subject areas. The technology doesn't have to be anything extravagant like the Pixten program that was discussed to us by one of the panelists, but just a simple video or picture found online would be extremely beneficial to the students. However, when larger projects do occur, Pixten and Wikis would be a great option to look at. I believe that technology can be incorporated into every class if you find it necessary, but really you only want to implement technology if it is more pedagogically useful than your original lesson strategy.

I think that getting students using technology is beneficial to both the teacher and the students. Both become familiarized with the different programs like Edmodo, Prezi, and Screen Chomp, as mentioned in the So You Say article and by one of the presenters of technology. Through programs like Edmodo, and also wikis for larger research projects or classroom projects, students are able to collaborate and build a community via technology. Websites like YouTube also provide the students with a valuable tool that they can also explore on their own. These video sites have plenty of auditory and visual input that is authentic or made by students just like them. While teacher assisting, my CT and I have used several online videos to introduce new vocabulary and the verb gustar. Most of them are catchy songs that get the students at least a little more interested in the material, and of course they get stuck in the students' heads!!! Really, technology can be used in a variety of ways. Authentic material can be found all over the web, and is a genuinely useful tool when teaching students a foreign language. Students can listen to songs to improve their comprehension, watch videos to experience the culture of foreign countries, collaborate as a class to make a project, and record dialogues through programs like Pixten or Sock Puppets, as presented during the panel meeting on technology, to improve their speech.

When determining the value of a tool or strategy, I really look at whether the technology will grasp students' interests and give them a break from standard lecture and discussion, which I believe is a crucial part of instruction. Technology is also useful and should be implemented in situations where you want students to have an authentic experience of the foreign language. Of course the sites will have to be screened for authenticity, but students will really be able to apply what they know navigating through sites in the foreign language or by writing a paper about some possible themes of a movie completely in the foreign language. Students could even make their own foreign language rap and record it! The possibilities are endless, really. Although there is so much technology out there, I don't think I would use it all of the time in my classroom. I am kind of old-school in the way that I like to learn (and teach), and I really like it when things are hand written or made by hand. I think that students learn a lot by actually writing things down on paper, or creating a poster about their favorite Hispanic author. There's also nothing wrong with reading every now and again with the higher level foreign language classes. Overall, I think that technology should always be used as a resource, but only used in actual activities if it is absolutely necessary and the students will reap the benefits of the technology. Amazing collaborative projects can be made through Wikis, and communities can be built online with Edmodo's easy, interactive, social interface. I will continue to try to implement technology in my placement when it seems to improve the lesson. I'll continue to research different technological techniques and strategies that I will be able to apply in my placement and future classroom.