Teaching Languages with Technology

This book draws on theories of second language acquisition (SLA) to illustrate how interactive white board technology can be exploited to support language acquisition. It examines interaction, collaboration and negotiation of meaning and focus on form in the communicative language classroom in primary, secondary and vocational schools. In recent years new technologies have been incorporated into second and foreign language education as tools for implementing teaching methodologies. IWBs have established their role in the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and are an effective and inspiring tool which motivates both teachers and learners. Although the number of IWBs in classrooms has rapidly increased over the past decade in many parts of the world, teacher training materials and pedagogical support for the design, evaluation and implementation of IWB-based materials in the foreign language classroom has not kept pace. Research also shows that language teachers do not always use IWBs in pedagogically sound ways. There is a real need for the development of training models and examples of good practice which can support teachers in developing the necessary competencies for exploiting the IWB in ways consistent with current theories of language teaching pedagogy.This book provides that best practice and gives a full account of in-depth research in an accessible manner.

This volume is a timely addition to the growing body of work on digital language learning and teaching. I would strongly recommend this book ... [It,] undeniably, will be of great use to those that are interested in this topic and will turn out a powerful driving force in the further development of IWB-facilitated teaching and researching in the future., Euline Cutrim Schmid and Shona Whyte’s collection of case studies compiled in this volume is a timely addition to the growing body of work on digital language learning and teaching. I would strongly recommend this book as it can serve as a reference book for teachers to find ways to integrate IWBs in different teaching contexts, for trainers to notice aspects to pay special attention to when training pre-service teachers, and for researchers to acquire inspiration to locate an interesting research topic … this volume, undeniably, will be of great use to those that are interested in this topic and will turn out a powerful driving force in the further development of IWB-facilitated teaching and researching in the future., Given the controversies which continue to surround our understanding of how to use the Interactive whiteboard (IWB), I warmly welcome the publication of this important new resource book. It successfully combines theory and practice, drawing on the research while at the same time providing practical insights for language teachers on getting the most out of this powerful tool. The cases studies cover a range of contexts, and crucially inform practitioners on maximising the potential of the IWB, and describe how to use it in communicative ways.

Euline Cutrim Schmid is Professor of TEFL and Applied Linguistics at the University of Education Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany.Shona Whyte is Associate Professor of English at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France.