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The Little Red School House
Like the
little red one-room school house, the days of computer illiterate and digitally
challenged English as a foreign language teachers are gone. Nowadays English
and foreign language teachers must routinely conduct any number of digitally-based
or online tasks.
Digital and Online Tasks
- Conduct online class sessions
- Communicate with learners
between class sessions using e-mails
- Create and manage online groups
- Develop and post digital EFL
materials
- Create, write and post to blogs
and websites like ESL Base
- Participate in online ELT
discussion forums
- Conduct online reading and
research
- Both upload and download EFL
materials to and from ELT websites
The list
could go on and on. The world of teaching English as a foreign or second
language is now, by far, a digital, global one.
Passing to the Forefront
If EFL
teachers are to continue in their respective positions, have any thought to
higher salaries beyond the traditional "standard of living" pay raises, or want
any increased responsibility and recognition to be able to pass to the
forefront of their fields, the time has long since come for their incrementing
their digital and online skills.
Modern, Digitally Competent EFL Teachers
The modern,
digitally competent English language teacher should be abreast of 21st century
teaching and learning tools.
Ask
yourself for example:
- Do you have a personal or English Language teaching website
or blog?
- Do you give and receive
assignments via e-mail or online class
room site?
- How frequent or intensive is
your participation in English language teaching forums online?
- Are you familiar with and make
use of English language teaching materials available at online websites
for teachers?
- Are you keeping up (or trying
to) with what's happening in the field of English and foreign language
teaching theory by researching, reading journals, reports, and blog posts (like this one) on the
internet?
It's Almost Never Too Late
If you find
yourself needing a boost in any of these skills, getting the upgrade assistance
you need may be as simple as completing a free online course or two. You might
also see what help is available at your school, company or institution. A quick
Google search (you DO know how to do
THAT, don't you?) will turn up hundreds if not thousands of other options.
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer,
Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign
language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles
used in more than 80 countries. Get your FREE E-books, English language
teaching and learning information at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service
or business or an
experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or
newsletter? Contact the author at the above blog address for more information.
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