The internet and young learners
Those following word could be Carla’s words. I think that exactly the way she thinks and the way EFL teacher are learning to think.
It’s great to know that is a world wide of information waiting for us.
“The internet is here to stay. Already today, children are learning Internet skills just as they learn basic reading and writing. It is common to see children already familiar with computers helping their teachers get started. The language of the Internet (or ‘CyberEnglish’) is an important medium in international communication. Leaving aside the pros and cons of this form of English, children must be educated to be what many people call ‘electronically literate’. Since being electronically literate means not only acquiring technical skills, but also working with English, the EFL teacher is in a position to kill two birds with one stone.
The internet provides children with a window on the outside world. It connects people from all corners of the earth through information on the websites or shared projects. When used thoughtfully, Internet activities can promote tolerance and bring children together.
But using the Internet in the language classroom has many other tangible benefits. The multimedia possibilities allow us to introduce content in diverse ways and thus appeal to the learning styles or ‘intelligences’ of more children. It is also highly motivating. Information on the Internet is enormously diverse and not organized in any linear way. It can, therefore, be used to encourage independent learning and creative thinking skills, as children can make more decisions about how to approach information.”
Lewis, Gordon. The internet and young learners. Oxford, Oxford Press, 2004
