Enhance Collaboration With Other Teachers

So many times, teachers work in isolation. However, technology allows teachers to share lesson plans, classroom projects, and other educational materials. Google offers numerous apps that allow teachers to collaborate. Teachers can work on one document together, adding fresh insights and unique perspectives. Google Slides, Sheets, Docs, and Forms allow multiple teachers to collaborate within a single document. Even if you are teaching English in a remote area, far from your colleagues, you can easily connect online to share plans, ideas, and data. There are numerous platforms that allow for easy teacher collaboration. Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Workspace are three examples of these collaborative tools.

Improve Communication With Students

Translation tools can help teachers communicate with students while they are learning a new language. Two examples are iTranslate  and Google Translate. iTranslate not only translates, but it also serves as a dictionary. Both apps can start voice-to-voice conversations in over ninety different languages, and both can be used on iPhone, iPad, and many Google devices. These translation tools are useful to English teachers by helping them communicate with parents and students more effectively.  Additionally, messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger not only enhance communication, but they are also useful in helping students improve their writing skills.

Increase Student Engagement

Research has found that using technology in the classroom increases student engagement, encourages them to communicate and collaborate with peers, and helps them produce  nique work. Below is a list of ways you can use technology in the ESL classroom to make learning more engaging.

• Google Classroom is a free resource that allows teachers to post messages, create assignments, and grade work. It not only helps teachers differentiate instruction but is also a fantastic way to organize paperwork, allowing teachers to access students’ work with the touch of a mouse.

• Scribbl is a fun, online version of the game Pictionary. It offers an entertaining way to practice English in a non-threatening environment for all skill levels.

• YouTube videos can improve students’ listening and comprehension skills. Additionally, many videos have been created especially for English language learners.

• Kahoot offers fun, interactive games that let ESOL students practice their language skills using various topics.

• Interactive Whiteboards like Smart Boards or Promethean Boards allow teachers to transform their lessons into interactive activities. They are useful for addressing different learning styles and allowing teachers to discuss the same subject matter in various ways, which is often necessary in the ESOL classroom.

• Readworks is a reading platform that offers passages organized into Lexile levels. The site has lessons in specific skills and strategies. It is valuable to ESOL students because it includes paired English and Spanish texts with vocabulary acquisition.

• Memrise is a useful app that lets students practice English. Students learn more advanced language as their skills improve, and they can move up to diverse levels. They can challenge other students and listen to English spoken by speakers with different accents.

Improve Lesson Plans

Teachers are busy professionals who often don’t have time to create every lesson plan from scratch. It’s sometimes useful to seek out the expertise of other teachers with an arsenal of plans. Teachers can modify the plans to fit the needs of their students. Many sites on the internet have fully developed plans, as well as sites that offer some sensational ideas for plans on various subjects, including English. Here are just a few that might be helpful:

• PBS LearningMedia contains thousands of videos, lesson plans, and other educational materials

• BusyTeacher is a database of over 17,000 printable worksheets and many lesson plans for English teachers.

• The Internet Second Language Collective ( ISLCollective) is a vast collection of printable worksheets created by Language teachers from around the world.

• British Council Teaching English is a worldwide program created for English teachers. It’s a site that lets teachers share their insights and resources. It has information on the latest research and innovations in teaching English, lesson plans and other resources.

• ELLLO (English Listening Lesson Library Online) is a website that offers free downloadable lessons for ESOL teachers and students. Most lessons include a video or an audiobook, with vocabulary activities and quizzes.

Help For TEFL Teachers

TEFL teachers will find technology especially useful. Virtual classrooms like Google Classroom and video conferencing tools such as Zoom are excellent tools for global collaboration. They provide students and teachers the opportunity to communicate with English language speakers from around the world. Educators seeking TEFL certification for teaching children will find these tools beneficial, allowing for global cultural exchange and enhancing student engagement. A helpful resource is the TEFL.org guide to becoming an ESL teacher that offers expert advice on how to become a TEFL teacher.

Allow For More Life/Work Balance

A teacher’s job is never-ending. Meeting the needs of students, planning lessons, and analyzing data is time-consuming. Teaching is a job that requires dedication, resiliency, and skill. With such demanding work comes stress and sometimes burnout. Taking advantage of the right technological tools can allow teachers to stay organized, plan lessons more efficiently, and reduce the amount of paper grading. This can lead to more leisure time and a chance to enjoy a full personal life.

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Yes, technology can be used to help ESOL teachers become better instructors. However, as Bill Gates once said, “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important. Technology’s role in the classroom will undoubtedly expand as time goes by, but it will never replace the role of a good teacher.