Innovation in Language Learning

Within the last few decades the education sector worldwide has experienced steady technological progress. Modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) has led to new visions for student-teacher classroom interaction .

Students feel more independent in undertaking tasks and because of innovative technology, mainly computer facilities, they have become less reliant on the teacher’s instructions. Nevertheless, such instructions remain an essential part of teaching because it is the teacher’s responsibility to create a reliable and safe learning environment in the class so that the students feel comfortable.

It is clear that a computer is not a ready alternative to a teacher and therefore it is important not to unrealistically raise expectations about educational achievements possible when using computers. Any overuse of technology will obviously lead to students taking less responsibility for tasks.

To gain a better insight into the problem of striking a balance between the usage of technology and teaching instructions, a survey has been conducted. The participants were 30 foreign language instructors from Kazakhstan who integrate ICT into their classes. The results will assist ESL/EFL teachers in establishing common ground with their students, and creating an appropriate learning environment.