Using modern technology in teaching English
as a foreign language
to improve the 4 skills
Introduction:
The world began to change and the classroom environment has changed from many years ago. Even the students’ minds concerning the modern technology have changed and these aspects of modern technology have become part of their daily life. We believe that the computer plays an integral part in providing students with valuable language experience as they learn a new language .Not only the computer but also the different aspects of modern technology began to play an important role in our lives. So, why don’t we make the best use of this modern technology to improve our students’ levels on English? Why don’t we make the best use of it to attract our students ‘attention and encourage them to involve in the educational process to make it student-centered teaching.
Aims: Using modern technology to improve the 4 skills reading, listening, writing and listening.

What are the aspects of modern technology?
Cell phones
The internet
E-mails
Mypodcasting
Web sitesThe computer
Electronic magazine
Blog-for me and for Ss
How can we apply these methods in teaching English?
Cell phones to improve speaking and writing skills.
Activity 1: I will ask my students to leave a voice mail message on my cell phone informing me about their full name and address. The message has to be understood or they are going to repeat it.
Activity 2: To improve reading, listening and writing skills. I can use also the cell phone .I will divide the class into 4 groups and ask each group to write to the other group a message.
After sending messages. Each group reads the message of the other group in front of the class. I will have the chance to correct their mistakes.
The computer
1- The Internet:
The internet is a huge source for all branches of knowledge.
Activity 1: I divide the class into 4 groups. I divide the task on the groups. I direct them to log onto the internet to find the information related to the topic. At the end the groups will complete each other.
Activity 2: Using live data about (stock market, sports or weather) from reliable internet sources .Students develop questions, analyze and make explanatory graphs and charts software.
Student can use / http://www.google.com/
1- Websites: I can use websites to improve the 4 skills especially writing
Activity 1: I have my website or blog .Through this way .I gives the students the chance to publish their work and comments. Through this way they can improve the writing skill.
They can make their account on the site / http://www.blogspot.com/ Activity 2:I To improve speaking and listening skills . Prepare my podcasting account then I will ask my students to use a cell phone to video tape interviews with the headmaster and other teachers .Also ,I will ask students to use their mobile phones to prepare a short video about themselves their experience their habits their favourite sport or anything else…
They can make their account on the site / http://www.mypodcast.com/
To develope the skill of writing they can register in this site
http://www.etec4u.com/forum/index.php
2-Electronic magazine:
To improve the reading and writing skills
Divide the class using team work. Make each group in charge of a certain section in the magazine.This magazine can reflect their daily life events. It can contain news about the school
Microsoft office publisher program
4-Movie maker:
Ask students to record anything using their creativity .
References
http://www.teachingmatters.org/
http://www.google.com/
http://www.blogspot.com/
http://www.mypodcast.com/


Ahmed Abdelaziz
Teacher of English
E-mail/ ahmed32afriend4ever@yahoo.com
My blog/ afriend4ever.blogspot.com /

friends4ever-ahmedafriend4ever.blogspot.com

Thank you

Activity 1: 2 minutes to write the message
1-group 1
Your job is to send Baerbel a message why you were late for the bus to Washington Dc .
2-group2
Your job is to send Baerbel a message why you didn’t finish your assignment .
2- Group 3
Your job is to send Baerbel a message to thank her for her advice ( you have a map and a mouth).
3- Group 4
Your job is to send Baerbel a message to give you a permission not to attend the afternoon’s session.
4- Group 5
Your job is to send Baerbel a message to bring a telephone set and an iron for the group .
5- Group 6
Your job is to send Baerbel a message to tell her how you are lucky to be here in Delaware.
Activity 2: in 2 minutes
Have an interview with a person in your group. Using your cell phone.

The advantages and Disadvantages of using modern technology

Highlight on the 28th CDELT National Symposium
on English Language Teaching
Saturday 1st March-Monday 3rd March,2008
The advantages and disadvantages of using
the modern technology
" Technology is a blessing and a curse "
"It is two edged weapon"
* We refer to technological devices as facilitators of
communication in transferring information.
. * It may seem contradictory to refer to technology
as a passive element which weakens or spoils communication.
We all notice that younger generations are in full
command of its use,while parents are not.
reversal of the family roles.
* Also, These generations lose the emotive communicative
urge and turn into one-way contact creatures
who are silent, deteched and unwilling to contribute
instant direct feedback even in answering a phone call.
It seems that human beings are losing the
" Concentration,
Consideration
and Contemplation"
They have great effects on the family and social level.
The absence of the three Cs :-
1- Concentration :
Life without it means
Negative presence of individuals in family and society.
Destruction in dealing with others.
Pulling oneself out of the real world.
* No radical improvement change in society.
2- Consideration :
Life without consideration means
* Disregard and disrespect for others.
* No concernment about fellow human.
* Tendency to hurt and harm others.
3- Contemplation:
Life without contemplation means
* Neglecting the abilities and the power of the brain.
* losing the time to sit and think.
The effects of modern technology of communication
on language.
" lose of linguistic competence"
If you lose language,
you lose intellect.
اذا ضاعت اللغة ----- ضاع الفكر
The outcomes of this bad effect on language :-

1- No fluency
2- Very poor vocabulary
3- No well- defined system of thought
4- Repetitive use of expressions
Ignore him نفض
Make your head big كبرّ
The speech died مات الكلام
سكت الكلام
Thank you

The challenges which face teaching English

Welcome and Opening Remarks
The meeting programme
-Mrs.Ratiba Osama
Agouza Administration supervisor
2- Mr Rashad Ramadan
Orman inspector
Mr.Ahmed Abd Al-aziz
(The challenges which face teaching English)
Highlight on the Conference
March 4-6,2008-Cairo-Egypt
FUlbright commmission in Egypt
The commission for Educational and cultural Exchange
between the U.S.A and the A.R.E
The challenges which face
teaching English as a foreign language
The importance of
HOW Not Why
1- Over crowded classes :
To overcome this problem:-
We can divide the class into groups
and then divide the task on these groups
to complet each other.
IT can be applied on teaching Ss how to write a paragraph
2- Lack of motivation:
To overcome this problem teachers and the
government have a great role:-
A) The teacher:-
He/She has the important and essential role in the
educational process.He/She should deal with his/her Ss
as a human being.He/she should reach then teach
by:-
1- Reward:-
Ss who don't have powerful intrinsic motivation
to learn can be helped by extrinsic motivators in the
form of rewards,rather than criticizing unwanted
behaviours or answers
2- Care :-
The teacher should reach to the Student's heart
then teach.Ss respond with interest and motivation
to teachers who appear to be human and caring
give ahand
be a friend
be a harmony in a band
be cheerful not sad
be good not bad
be flexible not hard
be all the time kind
* Ss need to be satisfied to keep interested and happy.
3- Students' participation :-
It's better to get Ss involved in activities group porblem
solving exercises, helping to decide what to do
and the best way to do it,helping the teacher,
Working with each other,or in some other way
getting physically involved in the lesson.
It is the best way to make Ss feel self-confidece and
teach them how to be co-operative.
4- Use positive emotions:-
If you can make things funny, exciting,enjoyable,
loving or perhaps even abit frightening,emotions
can be created by classroom attitudes by doing
something unexpected or outrageous by praise and by many other means.
" Asuccessful teacher is a great actor on the stage "
B) The government :-
*The government should match between
what is taught at schools and the workmarket. It should
make a connection between the school and the surroundings.
*It should provide schools with tools and
other things which Ss need to achieve the
the best results of the teaching process.
3- The illiteracy of using modern technology by
Teachers,Students and Parents
" The computer and the internet"
To overcome this problem :-
We should hold activating courses and be
followed up regularly to train teachers and Ss.
Also, during the summer holiday training courses
can be held for parents to teach them how deal
with modern tech to know how to follow up their children
4- Ignoring the role of the new methods and techniques
in teaching English
Jazz chants, songs,movies
To overcome this problem :-
We should train teachers how to use these new methods
and how these methods should cover the different
aspects of the language. the four skills,and the sub skills,
teaching vocabulary,grammer,....
5- Staying on the schedule :-
in other words, the traditional way.
Teachers shouldn't be obliged to work on the schedule
as much as they could. They should prepare the class
for creativity and brain storming.
Teachers shouldn't use traditional methods in teaching
Teachers should be guides and organizers
for the work
6- Using English as a communicative tool:-
Pupils find it difficult to interact if we
use only English in the classroom all the time .
To overcome this problem teachers try to
facilitate the meanings
Use known voc to present the new ones .
* teachers can use different techniques like :-
Acting
Body language
Visual aids
and many other ways.
7- Lack of regular and activating trainings :-
Regular trainings should be held to make teachers
aware of the latest methods on teaching to
improve their performance
8- Fear of speaking :-
Ss fear to speak in puplic.
To overcome this problem
* Encourage them
*Ts shouldn't interupt their Ss while expressing themselves in English.
* Involve them in small groups.
* Reward them.
* Give them first small roles then they will try to prove themselves
9- Reflective Teaching :-
* It's a process of self-observation and self-evaluation
* It should be applied regularly and effectively
as aguide and a way to improve his/her performance.

Thank you