Trainers specialising in teaching English as a foreign language and other experts discussed teaching in Asian classrooms at an annual conference held in HCM City last Saturday.
Rapid economic growth in Viet Nam has provided the basis for similar technological growth in the classroom and technology is increasingly seen as the "golden bullet" to solve many of the issues surrounding teaching English as a second language, but without effective use it can become just another distraction.
Technology needs to be introduced into the classroom in a measured and appropriate way to ensure that learning goals are achieved.
The use of technology in an ad hoc, unplanned manner could distract from the learning process and complicate the context, he said.
It should also be clear that technology cannot replace the teacher and teachers are the crucial link between the students and the technology, he said.
Ian Bosiak, a teacher trainer specialising in English as a foreign language and author of English language teaching (ELT) books published by Seoul-based e-future, one of Asia's fastest growing ELT publishers, said not all schools were equipped with the latest technology.
For classrooms without technology, practical in-class activities for motivating students through interactive and collaborative activities could be used, he said.
These activities were a great way to turn traditional, teacher-fronted lessons into environments in which students were taking more control of their learning and having fun doing it, he added.
Latest language assessment trends and techniques and assessment to promote better learning were also presented at the conference.
Technology needs to be introduced into the classroom in a measured and appropriate way to ensure that learning goals are achieved.
The use of technology in an ad hoc, unplanned manner could distract from the learning process and complicate the context, he said.
It should also be clear that technology cannot replace the teacher and teachers are the crucial link between the students and the technology, he said.
Ian Bosiak, a teacher trainer specialising in English as a foreign language and author of English language teaching (ELT) books published by Seoul-based e-future, one of Asia's fastest growing ELT publishers, said not all schools were equipped with the latest technology.
For classrooms without technology, practical in-class activities for motivating students through interactive and collaborative activities could be used, he said.
These activities were a great way to turn traditional, teacher-fronted lessons into environments in which students were taking more control of their learning and having fun doing it, he added.
Latest language assessment trends and techniques and assessment to promote better learning were also presented at the conference.
