Effective use of information technology in college EFL courses:

1
Effective use of information technology in
college EFL courses

• Mariko Miyao
• Informatics and Media Studies,
• Tsukuba Gakuin University, Tsukuba, Japan

2
Introduction

• Some student-centered English learning activities
  using information technology (IT)
• Offered
• In different courses
• Two departments
• Informatics and Media Studies
• Global Communication
• At a small university

3
Student types

• Informatics Majority
• Majoring in computer-related subjects
• Not enthusiastic about learning English
• Active in projects with computers
• Global Communication
• Less computer savvy
• More active in learning English
• Not much problem with less technically
  complicated activities using computers

4
How to offer a new activity using IT

• Try it with small groups of older,
  technically-minded students
• The teacher/students can learn new techniques
  together
• Both can improve the activities for better
  results
• When more confident, offer to a larger group or
  other types of students

5
Grouping (computer skills and English levels)

• Group A
• older technically minded, 3rd-4th year,
  Informatics major, small groups
• Group B
• 2nd-4th year, both departments, small to medium
  groups
• Group C
• Mostly 1st-2nd year, larger groups

6
Group A (Activity examples)

• Learning English using the Web course
• Quizzes for children with Hot Potatoes (freeware)
• http//www.kasei.ac.jp/cs/mariko/08engweb/index.ht
  ml (baby animals (sample quiz))
• Childrens picture books quizzes with Study
  Note (groupware)
• lthttp//www.tsukuba-g.ac.jp/t/miyao/www/db/n0000fd
  /index.htmlgt
• Graduation Project course
• Students choose their own projects to pursue and
  write final theses/reports about their
  experiences.

7
Group B (Activity examples)

• English Word Processing course
• Electronic wall newspapers (MS-Word)
• Sample newspapers
• English information/expression
• English website creation (Homepage Builder)
• lthttp//www.kasei.ac.jp/cs/mariko/johohyogen/johoh
  yogen08.htmlgt
• Business English (Basics)
• Presentation using a visual aid (Power Point)
• Sample presentation outline

8
Group C (Activity examples)

• Information English course (elective)
• Reading course (required)
• Individual listening practice for the textbook
  using a CALL system
• Discussions in the forum in Moodle
• Students become very active exchanging opinions
  lthttp//moodle.tsukuba-g.ac.jpgt
• Reading/listening/viewing on the web
• http//www.kasei.ac.jp/cs/mariko/EnglishSites.html
  

9
Activity examples using the web

• Quizzes for ESL/EFL students
• Reading/Viewing/Listening
• Newspapers (Authentic vs. one for ESL learners)
• You Tube (Britains got talent.)
• Searching for/reporting on your favorite websites
  
• How to use Internet dictionaries
• (Avoid translation software)

10
Web-based Activities

• Free (except Study Note)
• Students - take initiative in creating their own
  works
• - enjoy the process
• Teacher need basic IT techniques
• search for good materials
• Its worth it to motivate students.

11
Conclusion

• New activities try with a small group
• Gradually accumulate good activities using IT
• Advanced levels use authentic materials on the
  web
• Lower levels Use technically less complicated
  activities
• Technically minded students experiment new
  activities together