In the 21^st century, modern technology in the EFL classroom has become more and more dominant. iPads has replaced textbooks and smartboards has replaced blackboards. The impact that technology has had on today’s education is significant, and it has changed how teachers teach and students learn. In this blogpost I will discuss the advantages and challenges of the use of Modern technology in the EFL classroom, and I will also use some of my own experiences from my classroom.

Benefits of using Modern technology in the EFL classroom

•  Gives opportunity to reach pupils with different learning styles

In my classroom I use a lot of modern technology when teaching English, and I have many good experiences with it. This year I started using flipped-classroom, which gives me the opportunity to approach different learning styles. Some pupils are visual learners and need to see both written words and picture to learn; others are auditory learners and prefer to listen to the language. By recording a lesson and then enhancing it with text, I am more likely to reach more of my pupils in a way they learn and understand. Another positive thing about flipped-classroom is that the pupils can play, pause and repeat the lesson as they wish; something that obviously is not always possible in a normal lesson.

• Make pupils more independent learners

A benefit of using technology in the English subject is the ability it offers for independent learning. In my class we use different text-to-speech features and interactive textbooks (oxford owl and quest) that give the pupils the opportunity to read and enjoy English books above their actual reading level. On some features and interactive books you can click on items and words to get definitions. The pupils has also learned how use dictionaries online, when reading words they don’t understand.

• Communicating with English speakers

One thing I have planned to do in my English class is to organize a real-time conversation with other English speakers. This is a great way of using technology in the classroom, where the pupils have to use the English language to communicate on Skype or facetime. When preparing this, I would in advance prepare some questions with my class. This way of using technology in the classroom is something the pupils never would have the opportunity to do without the technology we have today. It is an amazing, fun and exciting way of developing speaking skills.

Challenges of using Modern technology in the EFL classroom

• Access to technological resources

My pupils have a lot of their English homework on Google classroom and quest. This means that they have to have access to technological devices such as PC, iPad or tablets. I therefore asked the parents who had access, and who did not. Because some of the pupils did not have access at home, I had to organise group-assignments and homework-help at school. They have the opportunity to come 30 minutes before school begins barrow iPads or PCs and do their homework in the classroom with one teacher present.

• Reliability

Most teachers has experienced that the smartboard suddenly needs an update or that the iPad will not work. This can discourage teachers from using modern technology in class. It is also a challenge for some teachers, because they are faced with classes of pupils who appear to have more digital competence then themselves. In these cases you as a teacher have to be open to get help, and in some cases change the plan for the lesson.

• Distraction

The most common problem for teachers using technology in the classroom, is the concern that the pupils will be distracted by apps, games and other websites. What I think is important, is to give the pupils clear rules and goals for the lesson. In this way they easier get to work, and forget all the distractions on the devices.