Audio Visual AidsThe Computer
- This is the most important tool of information and communication technology and backbone of modern human life.- It is helpful in the development of listening and speaking skills.
- It is helpful in English language speaking and listening skills.
- The rapid development of technology in teaching is done by computers.
- Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) are available in the market.
- CALL programmes employ a Communicative Methodology.
- CALL involves the learner in a more meaningful interaction with the computer.
Advantages of CALL
- CALL programmes present the learner with a novelty.- They create interesting learning conditions and present it through games and problem solving techniques.
- Self study is done by the learner.
- Self assessment
- Immediate feedback and self correction/
- Various activities - video, cassette recorder.
- Provide the learner computer literacy.
Disadvantages
- Deal with mainly reading and writing and partially listening.- Speaking is neglected.
- Programmes do not suit real-life situations.
- Only grammatical structures are accepted by computer.
- It is expensive.
English Language Kit
- It consists of Authentic Materials- Authentic materials are found by V.J.Cook
- Those materials which are not produced for purposes of teaching are called Authentic Materials.
- Examples for Authentic Materials are- tooth paste carton, soar wrapper, a bill in super market, electricity bill, a railway ticket etc.
- These Authentic materials are added and kept in a bag or box in order to teach English. It is called English Language Kit
AUTHENTIC/ NON-PEDAGOGIC MATERIAL
- Materials development refers to all the processes made use of by practitioners who produce and use materials for language learning.- As it is already known that textbooks cant expose students to examples of real language used in everyday life, teachers must use additional resources.
- Authentic materials in language teaching or learning make teaching-learning more effective and more interesting.
- Materials such as newspapers, name boards in shops, etc. which are not originally designed for teaching-learning purposes are called authentic/non-pedagogic materials. Such materials offer a rich source for language learning.
- The materials which were not originally conceived for pedagogic purposes have come to known as non-pedagogic materials. These offer a rich source for language learning.
Example of Authentic Materials
- Spoken: TV commercials, films, news items, weather forecasts, airport and station announcement, radio talks, interviews, and debates.
- Written: Recipes, articles, train timetables, advertisements, brochures, poems, application forms, and instruction for use of equipment.
Information and communicative technology
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to all technology, in particular computers, used in the field of education.
- Now we cannot imagine education without the use of Information and communication Technology. It has made exchange of thoughts, ideas, experiences and feelings easier.
- With the help of ICT a lot of persons can get education and training simultaneously at low cost.
- ICT is being used in all the aspects of education.
- Use of computers, Internet, television, radio, projectors and mobile phones, e-mail facility, online audio and video conferencing as well as new applications has made the Teaching Learning Process and Training attractive and convenient.
- It is also helpful in saving time, energy and money.
- Some of the important ICT tools and applications used in the field of English Language Teaching are following...i) Computers
ii) Over head projector
iii) Lingua phone: This tool is very important in language training of the students. A number of students can practice speaking and hearing drills with the help of lingua phone. It is especially useful in the training of English language listening and speaking skills.
iv) Radio: It is very useful in education and training of the students of rural areas. Many distance and open education programmes are being conducted with the help of radio. It is also useful in audio conferencing. Programmes relayed on radio are helpful in the development of language skills, especially dialogues and dramas.
v)Television
vi) Internet: All the modern communication takes place through this. It has made the communication facility very fast, convenient, economic, and attractive. There are lots of facilities available for communication on internet. Some of them are following..
a) Films in Teaching English
b) Social media: It provides a platform for sharing thoughts and ideas. Blogs are made on it. Students can add themselves with the English language learning groups and take advantage of sharing information. Lots of social sites are available on it like, Face book, Twitter, Instagram etc. It is very helpful in learning situational language.
c) Online facilities for English language learning: A lot of online facilities are available on internet for the development language skills. Some of them are e-guidance, e-tutoring, e-teaching, e-journals, e-magazines, e-books,e-library, online training, virtual classes etc.
d) E-Learning Vs Online Learning: The differences between e-learning and online learning can be shown through the following table:
- Thus, ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receiving information electronically in a digital form. Besides, above mentioned tools, ICT also includes the use of audio devices (speaker, earphone, CD etc), mobile gadgets, social interface, Interactive white boards etc. ICT has the following benefits:
- It facilitates exposure to authentic language
- It provides wider sources of information and varieties of language.
- It gives the opportunity to people to communicate with the world outside.
- It allows a learner-centered approach.
- It develops learners autonomy.
- It also helps people in order to get information and to communicate each other in wider range.
- Teaching aids are any material the teacher can use to make a concept easy for the learner to understand.
- A good teaching aid is a low cost teaching aid or no cost teaching aid.
- It can be made by the teacher, rather than purchasing
- In order to server their purposes, teaching aids should have relevance. It means that teaching aid and the teaching point should be related to each other.
- A teaching aid should have versatility, so that it can be used for more than one purpose. For example, a teaching aid produced for the purpose of teaching vocabulary, can be used for the purpose of teaching grammar.