The Use of ICT Tools in English Language Teaching and Learning: A Literature Review

Abstract

Language learning and teaching is considered to be a complex process. To make such a complexity easier, well-advanced teaching aids should be available as it is the need of the hour. The recent and great development of the Internet led to a technological revolution in all fields of our life and teaching and learning in which gradually become more reliable are not exception. Nowadays, ICT is gaining a vast attractiveness in foreign language teaching and learning as more educators are embracing it. ICT has its noticeable impact on the quality and quantity of teaching-learning process. In concrete terms, ICT can enhance teaching and learning through its dynamic, interactive, and engaging content; and it can provide real opportunities for individualized instruction (1). The modern classroom environment has changes a lot than the previous-traditional environment due to technology. However, the present paper casts the light on the ICT tools that can help in the development of English language learning and teaching processes to show how technology affects second/foreign language education and how it can be used effectively in the secondary EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classroom; These tools include both web-based tools and non-web based tools and how it can be used in the classroom.

Full text

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Mohammed Adulkareem A. Alkamel1*, Dr. Santosh S. Chouthaiwale 2
RESEARCH ARTICLE
THE USE OF ICT TOOLS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING AND
LEARNING:A LITERATURE REVIEW
Mohammed Adulkareem A. Alkamel1*, Dr. Santosh S. Chouthaiwale 2
1(Department of English, Indraraj Arts,Comm. & Science College / Dr. BAM University Aurangabad, India)
alkamel2030@gmail.com
2(Asst. Professor & Head, Department of English,Indraraj Arts,Comm. & Science College/ Dr. BAM University
Aurangabad, India)
dr.sschothaiwale@gmail.com
Mohammed Adulkareem
Dr. Santosh S. Chouthaiwale
ABSTRACT
Language learning and teaching is considered to be a complex process.
To make such a complexity easier, well-advanced teaching aids should be
available as it is the need of the hour. The recent and great development of the
Internet led to a technological revolution in all fields of our life and teaching and
learning in which gradually become more reliable are not exception. Nowadays,
ICT is gaining a vast attractiveness in foreign language teaching and learning as
more educators are embracing it. ICT has its noticeable impact on the quality
and quantity of teaching-learning process. In concrete terms, ICT can enhance
teaching and learning through its dynamic, interactive, and engaging content;
and it can provide real opportunities for individualized instruction(1). The
modern classroom environment has changes a lot than the previous-traditional
environment due to technology. However, the present paper casts the light on
the ICT tools that can help in the development of English language learning and
teaching processes to show how technology affects second/foreign language
education and how it can be used effectively in the secondary EFL (English as a
Foreign Language) classroom; These tools include both web–based tools and
non-web based tools and how it can be used in the classroom.
Keywords: ICT, Internet, Modern, English.
Citation:
APA Alkamel,M.A.A. & Chouthaiwale,S.S. (2018). The Use of ICT Tools in English Language Teaching and
Learning: A Literature Review. Veda’s Journal of English Language and Literature-JOELL, 5(2), 29-33.
MLA Alkamel, Mohammed Adulkareem A. and Santosh S.Chouthaiwale.“The Use of ICT Tools in English
Language Teaching and Learning: A Literature Review.” Veda’s Journal of English Language and
Literature JOELL, Vol.5, no.2, 2018, pp. 29-33.
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article Copyright © 2018 VEDA Publications
Author(s) agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License 4.0 International License .

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Mohammed Adulkareem A. Alkamel1*, Dr. Santosh S. Chouthaiwale 2
1. INTRODUCTION
To have a fully understanding of importance
of ICT in education, it is a must to know the meaning
of ICT. ICT stands for information and communication
technology. It is defined as a different set of
technological tools and resources that used to
communicate, create, spread and manage
information.
According to Daniels (2002) Information and
communication technology (ICT) is considered to be
one of the basic building blocks of modern society.
Many countries now regard understanding ICT and
mastering the basic skills and concepts of ICT as part
of the core of education (2). However, globalization
has brought an immense change in every aspect of
human life and education is no exception. The
introduction of ICT to education can help in creating
a new way of learning and teaching where we are in
a world that technology has reduced it into a small
village. In the last two decades the use of ICT has
changed the practices and procedures of nearly all
forms of endeavor within business and governance.
The use of ICT in education lends itself to more
student-centered learning setting. But with the world
moving rapidly into digital media and information,
the role of ICT in education is becoming more and
more important and this importance will continue to
grow and develop in the 21st century (3).
Nowadays the use of ICT in teaching and
learning process becomes very important. The
teacher is expected to be both traditional and
modern in his/her teaching-learning process. The
teacher has to be prepared to have the capacity of
including ICT in the teaching process. In the 21st
century technologies are interactive but still low in
the language classroom (4). Recently, internet has
gained and still gaining an immense popularity in
second/foreign language teaching and more teachers
and learners are embarrassing it. So, there is no
doubt that ICT has impacted the quantity and quality
of teaching and learning in traditional and distance
education institutions. Therefore, ICT can enhance
teaching and learning through its dynamic and
interactive content and can provide real
opportunities for individualized instruction (5).
2. WHAT IS ICT?
The term ICT stands for information and
communication technology. The term “information
and communication technologies” (ICT) refers to
forms of technology that are used to transmit,
process, store, create, display, share or exchange
information by electronic means. This broad
definition of ICT includes such technologies as radio,
television, video, DVD, telephone (both fixed line and
mobile phones), satellite systems, and computer and
network hardware and software, as well as the
equipment and services associated with these
technologies, such as videoconferencing, e-mail and
blogs (6).
In a document of UNESCO shared online, the
ICT has been defined with broader perspective
advocating its scope, importance and nature of use,
especially highlighting in the field of education:
“Information and Communications Technologies
(ICTs) are a diverse set of technological tools and
resources used to communicate, and to create,
disseminate, store, and manage information.
Communication and the information are at the very
heart of the educational process, consequently ICT-
use in education has a long history. ICT has played an
educational role in formal and non-formal settings, in
programs provided by governmental agencies, public
and private educational institutions, for profit-
corporations and non-profit groups, and secular and
religious communities” (unesco.org).
ICT includes the use of computer
technology, including hardware, peripheral devices,
media, delivery systems and software. This term is
used in the ISTE NETS standards and is used by
UNESCO in reference to the integration of technology
into teaching (UNESCO, 2002). However, Information
and communications technology (ICT) is an accepted
element in all our lives and has a central role to play
in education. Since the appearance of the first
Government policy on ICT in education in 1997, a
substantial investment has been made in ICT facilities
and training in Irish schools. In many countries, the
debate about ICT in education concentrates on the
potential impact of ICT on teaching and learning and
on the measures that need to be adopted to ensure
that the potential of ICT to enrich students’ learning
experience is realized.

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Mohammed Adulkareem A. Alkamel1*, Dr. Santosh S. Chouthaiwale 2
3. THE USE OF ICT TOOLS
Today ICT is being used as a tool of
improving the quality of life. Its use is increasing in
such a way in recent years. Different language
institutions in all over the globe have already realized
the importance of ICT in teaching-learning process.
However, ICT plays the lion role in communicating,
establishing and managing information.
ICT has proved effective in delivering
learning to all over the world and to those people
who are unable to move from their places and
cannot move their limb and hardly utter words. It
becomes possible for them to enhance education due
to ICT.
There are many different ICT tools that can
be used in teaching and learning. These tools can be
applied in different education fields.
4. ICT TOOLS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING
ICT tools are many and some of them will be
presented in details in this paper. However, ICT tools,
in this paper, are divided into two types which are
non-web based and web based learning tools.
4.1. NON WEB BASED LEARNING
4.1.1. RADIO AND TELEVISION
Radio and television are the useful tools of
language learning. Both the instruments offer cheap
access to rich programs. The immediacy of current
affair programs ensures that learners’ exposure to
the language is up-to-date and embedded in the real
world of native speakers. Through radio it is possible
for the teachers to make the students to listen the
lectures by eminent and outstanding speakers. Tv is
the other important technological medium used by
the language teachers as it appeals through eyes and
ears. Tv provides a full audio visual simulation,
dynamic and attains a higher degree of realism. Tv
gives linguistic expression along with the facial
expression.
4.1.2. FILMS
Films are the most powerful element in the hands of
an intelligent and resourceful teacher. Films appeal
the pupils, heighten their interest and held them in
the retention of the learned materials. Films are
profitably used to showcase the facts, actions skills
and background information. The students of primary
level get interested to know the functioning of the
speech organs and the pronunciation. The students
of higher level are acquainted with classical and
newly released plays and novels which have been
filmed.
4.1.3. LANGUAGE LAB
Language lab is one of the modern
technological teaching aids. Language lab has multi
facets like students can listen to the audios and can
understand the different accent used, the students
are able to speak and even, they can record their
voices. The students’ pronunciation level could be
improvised by listening to the standardized materials.
Language lab is an exclusively result oriented and it
enriches the English language learning process. In the
recent trends, not only the audios but videos, flash
based games, internet are also included in the lab
materials. Language lab creates an easy atmosphere
than a traditional classroom.
4.1.4. OVERHEAD PROJECTORS
The projector, a conventional method of
teaching, is highly beneficial and an alternative to
chalk and talk. The OHP consumes time by preparing
the materials in advance, but this sort of multimedia
ensures the high- quality instruction. It is an
important visual aid to display the context to the
large class. OHP’s allows the teachers to use images,
diagrams and it reduces the work of the teacher by
drawing it on the black board. By using OHP’s more
complicated sources can be brought into any
classrooms and it is easy to use, versatile and it is
easy for the students to take notes from it.
4.2. WEB BASED LEARNING
A web based learning also called technology
based learning/distance learning/on line
education/e-learning is one of the fastest developing
areas. It provides opportunities to create well–
designed, learner–centered, affordable, interactive,
officiate, flexible e-learning environment (khan,
2005). There are thousands of English web based
classes that offer trainings for a variety of basic
language skills such as Learning, Speaking, Reading
and Writing and are made interactive in a variety of
ways. Some of the common technologies available
for promotion of education are as follows:
4.3. YOUTUBE
YouTube is a platform where you find and
share authentic video material which can also be
used in your classroom. Wikipedia says: “YouTube is

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Mohammed Adulkareem A. Alkamel1*, Dr. Santosh S. Chouthaiwale 2
a video sharing website on which users can upload
and share videos, and view them in MPEG-4 format.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youtube).
4.3.1. E-mail
The students can correspond with native
speakers of the target language using e mail by
creating a personal email account (g-mail, yahoo,
hotmail, etc) which is free. The students can mail
their home work to the teachers concerned and get it
corrected in turn. The teacher can also provide
revisions, feedback, suggestions for the betterment
of every work and send them back.
4.3.2. BLOGS
A blog is a personal or professional journal
frequently updated for public consumption. The
blogs enable uploading and linking the files which is
very much suited to serve as on line personal journals
for students. Pinkman (2005) indicates blogging
becomes communicative and interactive when
participants assume multiple roles in the writing
process, as readers/reviewers who respond to other
writers‟ posts, and as writers-readers who, returning
to their own posts, react to criticism of their own
posts. The readers in turn can comment on what they
read, although blogs can be placed in secured
environments as well.
4.3.3. SKYPE
Every internet service has audio functions,
and technological instruments like laptops with
cameras. The students could communicate with their
teachers and friends who are far away. Likewise, they
could very well communicate with the speakers of
native language and get their pronunciation checked
so as to improve their speaking.
4.3.4. MOBILE PHONE
Learners can search for new words using
dictionary option in the mobile phones and enrich
their vocabulary. They may verify the spelling,
pronunciation and usage of the specific word they
searched for. Moreover, they can use Short Message
Service (SMS) to send queries to their instructors and
get their doubts cleared.
4.3.5. IPODS
Ipods, one of the multimedia devices,
enhance the users to generate, deliver, exchange
texts, image, audio and video scripts as per the
requirement. The teachers send text messages and
the students can read and answer to them. In
addition to this, the students can record and listen to
their speeches, poems, news, short stories etc. Thus,
ipods give a chance to the learners of English to
improve their listening, pronunciation, vocabulary,
grammar and also writing.
5. SCOPE OF ICT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Information and communication technology in ELT
can cover all the four skills of English language
(Grammar – Writing – Reading –speaking). ICT plays a
lion role in teaching anf learning of English. The
modern way of teaching-learning process depends on
information and communication technology (ICT). So,
it becomes the need of the hour to improve the
quality of education.
6. BENEFITS OF USING ICT TOOLS IN ELT
ICT provides positive vibrations on students’
attitude towards learning a language. Students can
have an excellent chance to pick out the elements
through which they can meet their learning
strategies, which were failed to satisfy by the
conventional methods. The availability of sources like
images, animations, audio and video clips is very
simulating because they support the learners in
presenting and practicing a language in a different
way. Not only for the students but also the teachers
depend more on these tools to produce, prepare,
store and retrieve the materials of learning at ease.
ICT provides authenticity by which the learner could
interact with others all over the world.
7. CONCLUSION
This literature review explored the use of ICT
tools in teaching and learning of English. Since
conventional approaches and the methodologies are
interlinked with the novel technologies to teach
English language, it seems impractical to keep them
part. With the help of these ICT tools which are
available freely on the internet, can make the second
language teaching a fruitful one. It becomes
beneficial for teaching a foreign language in the
hands of creative and knowledgeable language
teachers. Now ELT has come into the period of
evaluation where new inventions are entering into
our day to- day activities. The elements which are
aforementioned are making impacts in the pathway
of learning particularly in the English language

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Mohammed Adulkareem A. Alkamel1*, Dr. Santosh S. Chouthaiwale 2
teaching. Thus, it is shown that ELT has evolved to a
greater extent due to the influx of technologies.
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