BİLDİRİLER

BİLDİRİ DETAY

Seçil TÜMEN-AKYILDIZ
DOES THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FACILITATE OR DEBILITATE TURKISH EFL CLASSES?
 
It is a well-known fact that the integration of technology into language learning has the potential to contribute to student centeredness, active learning, motivation, and dynamism in the process. Most research in this line pointed out that students get benefits of using technology in EFL (English as Foreign Language) as they are digital citizens grown up in the digital era. As teachers still have notable roles in student centered learning environments, their perceptions are major predictors in technology use in EFL. This study therefore, has aimed to investigate the technology use of secondary school Turkish EFL teachers and their perceptions about the advantages and disadvantages of using it. Interviews were conducted with a total of 10 secondary school EFL teachers chosen voluntarily. The participants were chosen from different schools to prove a general perspective. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed through qualitative content analysis. The results revealed that most of the teachers felt themselves obliged to use technology in their classes due to the demands of the new generation. Enhancing communication among learners, making learners more independent, and providing authentic learning opportunities are some of the facilities reported in the study. On the other hand, spending much time to learn how to use technological devices and programs, to use them in classroom, lack of enough competence of using them and negative attitudes towards them are some of the notable disadvantages of technology use to debilitate EFL teaching.

Anahtar Kelimeler: EFL, Technology, Teachers' perceptions, Digital citizenship



 


Keywords: