English through ICT: Developing 21st Century Skills
Zahid Hussain Md Jakir Masum, Asian University for Women (Bangladesh)
Abstract
The concept of using ICT in ELT has been in the market to such extent that it has now become imperative to use ICT tools in ELT. The integration of educational technology in teaching English language has led to some fruitful development from CALL to VLE. Nevertheless, such integration is primarily around transferring paper-based practice to tech devices, and eliciting or modeling language points using multimedia. Approach as such often requires students to have certain ICT skills to make the integration a success. With the aim of providing an alternative, this paper puts forward "English through IT" approach, quite distinctive than contemporary ones, which is aspired to develop English and ICT skills simultaneously. In addition to elaborating prospect of such approach, particularly in developing countries, this paper outlines a model lesson plan and principles behind its development. It also includes reflection on such lessons that have already been trialed in a “pre-university-setting.” While the approach is yet to make a full entry into the curriculum, the trial shows glaring prospect not only to develop workers with necessary English and IT skills, but students with 21st-century-study-skills in an academic setting as well.
Keywords |
Integrating ICT in ELT, Content-based ELT, ESP, 21st Century Study Skills |