ENGLISH EDUCATION PROGRAM

UHAMKA

TEACHING ENGLISH THROUGHCOMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Process of teaching has three main components. The components are teachers, students, instructional material. The two other components that are not the main ones, but those are very important, namely: places and instructional media. In this paper, the writer will focus on the use of computer technology in English teaching. The use of computer now can not be neglected by English teachers if they want to be qualified and professional English teachers. One of qualified and professional English teachers’ characteristics is that the teachers understand about computer technology and can operate it to support their teaching activities. Knowing and being able to operate computer is a must for every teacher in order to follow the trend of language teaching method.            Technology is nowadays needed in every aspect of human life. Not only the physical aspects but also the non physic ones need the existence of technology. Television, radio, cars, etc. are the examples of technology that are touchable and visible. While the internet, telephone, and radio are the examples of technology that need satellite to transfer data of words, sounds, and moveable pictures (film). English teachers in special and all teachers in general who can follow the development of technology will not be able to teach effectively. Conventional teachers, the teachers who can not operate computer as a media of instruction, will not be able to follow trend of teaching method now. That is why technology is one of the teachers’ needs in teaching and learning process.             Not all kinds of technology are suitable as a means of teaching process. The suitable ones are such as cameras, audio equipments, computer and video equipments, overhead projection devices, scanners, printers, CD and almost any device that can access, present, manipulate, and communicate sounds and images to enable us to create meaning. English teacher has opened up new and exciting possibilities.             The following are the examples of some emerging technologies that can be used in English teaching:

1. Word processing or desk top publishing

This technology is used for making letters, words, signs, writing styles, and illustrated books. Those technologies are: to publish stories, poems, letters, brochures, reports, essays, signs, articles, reviews, recounts, biographies,  journals, information, arguments, and illustrated books.

1. Internet for information

This technology is used to seek information which relates to the themes we need. The information that can be found are like: information about writers (authors information), song lyrics, and any topic, for example: English courses, science, and technology.

1. Discussion groups

This technology is to inform any discussion group in the world. We can join and apply to be the member the groups by engaging in the discussion and particular reading activities.

1. Web page Construction.

This technology is provided for personal web page design. The web page can be put or place on school site as well. In addition, the web page can produce personal web site on-line magazine, newspaper, and also other electric new media.

1. CD ROM information

This technology is to search information topics which can be in the form of news, CD ROM interactive educational games, and the like.

1. Interactive book reading

This technology serves books that we read and share them for pleasure. There are also other kinds of reading activities, such as reading developing knowledge and experience, reading books for hobby.

1. Drawing

This facility of the technology is to design and draw letters of the alphabets decoratively, make book covers attractively, insert pictures and symbols however as we want, etc.

1. Digital Image Manipulation

This facility of technology is provided to cut, past, and manipulate digital pictures so that we can illustrate our own writing beautifully and attractively. With the help of this technology, we can also place appropriate photographs into document to promote ideas. In addition, we can make a colorful picture and lines and change the color as we like.

1. Sound Recording

This facility is to record spoken sound or voice; it can also add sound to published works. In several occasion, we can interview character from an novel, for example, and record his or her sound.

1. Graphic Organizing

It is called the life cycle of an insect. We can use the graphic organizing to organize and show our students’ own family tree.

1. Games

Such games as word building and spelling games can be presented through this facility of technology. Using spelling programs for drill and practice to broaden spelling make students easier to understand the meaning of words or sentences.

1. Talking books

This facility is used to share ‘talking books’ using power point software.

1. Chat lines

It is probably best accessed on intra-net rather than the external one. Many students spend a great deal of time ‘chatting’ to peer around the world. This could open up interview possibilities. Interviewing students in distant places via a chat line about education is commonly done among them.

1. E-mail

This technology is the one that can be used to have dialogues between students and their teachers or among students themselves. They can also send information among others.

            Although there have been many facilities which are provided by computer technology to support teaching and learning activities, there are still many Indonesian teachers, English teachers, that are not afford to have computer set. It is caused that most of them must still struggle with their life, that is to make money and life for their family. Not only to buy a computer set, but also to meet their daily needs, most teachers still have many difficulties.

            Anyway, the writer should separate the real condition of Indonesian teacher doe to their life and the need or the trend of English Language Teaching Methodology and media. Based on the trend of the need of present time, all teachers must facilities and also ability to operate computer and use it to support their teaching activities.   

Apart from the real condition of Indonesian teachers above, there are two kinds reasons, at least, why English teachers should use computer technology as a instructional instrument. The first reason is for students. The technology of computer can:

1. Be very motivational

Because of computer facilities which are very flexible and complete,

1. Be the source of a significant amount of reading materials.
2. Be fun – and when it is fun you learn!
3. Help students to produce excellent published work.

And the second reason is for the teachers. For them, technology of computer can:

1. Allow for the easy production, storage, and retrieval of prepared material certificates and work required sheets.
2. Free up communication with other teachers
3. Help teachers to find information of teaching materials easily
4. Assist good teaching but not replace them to teach

Apart from the advantages of the computer technology, there are also challenges and opportunities presented by computer. They are:

1. The emergence of new kinds of texts and the consequent need to teach and use these texts effectively;
2. Changing social practices associated with communicating via computers. The consequent need to teach students how to make judgments about different avenues of communication;
3. The pervasiveness and power of texts created through computer technology consequent need to teach students to be critical readers and viewers.

Hyper-texts, web-pages, e-mail communication, and other multi media technology are the kinds of texts that can be created as we want. Those texts blend the written, spoken and visual, so that students can expose exciting and powerful ways. The choices available to the creators and users expand so rapidly so English teachers should start helping students to make: hyper texts, web – pages, and e – mail communication.    

In recent workshop presented by PETA, Katina Zamit presented some useful tools to help students read computer text, including her analysis sites:Analysis Screens            Select an internet site and consider the questions below:            How is the screen composed?

1. What caught your eye first?
2. What has been placed on the left of the screen (the given section)?
3. What has been placed on the right side of the screen (the New)?
4. What is in the top half of the screen (the ideal)?
5. What is in the bottom half (the real)?
6. What has the  screen been designed in this way?
7. How would you read the screen? Where would you start?
8. What pictures or images have been included? Why? What do they represent?
9. How natural, scientific, and abstract are they?
10. What written text is used? Why? What sort of font, size of type?
11. What would students need to know to be able  to use this site  or read the screen?
12. What navigation tools are used? Where are they located? How might they influence the user’s reading pathway?
13. Does the screen provide information (offer) or have an image that looks the eye (Demand)?