Adding Value to the Teaching of Grammar through the use of ICTs

Tucumán

Jornada; Segundas Jornadas de Actualización para Profesores de Inglés; 2010

Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)

The rapid development of new technologies of communication and information (ICTs) has had major impact on second language teaching and learning at the turn of the millenium. Thus, there are growing demands on teachers to become technologically literate and on students to adopt a more self-regulated learning attitude. In this context, the objective of this work to shed light over some of the endless ways in which the grammar teacher may exploit the plentiful resources offered by the ICTs today. More specifically, our presentation will tackle, in the first place, different aspects concerning the efficiency of practice activities design in the field of grammar when exploiting online resources. The second part will be devoted to the significance and value of feedback provision when making use of technological tools such as CD Roms in the grammar class. Reaching a sound balance between these two issues will allow teachers to reap full benefits of the advantages of the ICTs, which is a challenge posed for those who aim at increasing students? motivation, encouraging independent learning, and helping them achieve higher levels of performance.