Innovations in English Language Teaching
The 21st century marked significant improvements in the field of
language teaching methods and practices. A lot of innovative and diverse technologies
and methodologies have emerged for assisting the faculties for teaching English
language. English is considered to be world's commonly learned second language. Although
technology has improved extremely, there are still a digital divide in various countries
and due to this reason the innovations often fail to reach the other side of the divide.
Computer Assisted Language Learning is one such break through innovation in the domain
of English Language Teaching. The use of Computers in language learning process enhanced
the overall learning experience and also promoted one to learn and practice more by self
through language learning games, activities or even repeat and compare exercises.
In most of the countries, the use of technology is not restricted to any particular age
groups. Today even a child in his/her elementary class is given an exposure to the
technologies during their upbringing that he/she would definitely possess some kind of
digital skills. And that is why it is believed that the use of technology in language
learning wouldn't be that difficult. An early start in language learning would have a
positive impact on the overall attitude of the students. The most appropriate approach
of teaching learners will depend on a number of factors: the age of the children, size
of the classroom, the efficiency of the teachers, availability of resources and the
infrastructural facilities available within the learning environment all adds to this
factor. The oral competency of the teachers is definitely the factor that affects a
student's basic language learning platform. This could vary from person to person. There
are indeed wide source of materials available on the internet that could help the
teachers to improve the oral competency, this could be in the form of e-books, reading
course materials, practice exercises etc. These could be downloaded and the teachers can
make use of it for improving their oral competency and thereby building the language
skills among the students as well eventually.
There are a number of e-tools that are available for even the students to practice. One
such innovative concept was the use of Digital Language Lab or Laboratory. Years back
this was in the form of analog model and with the advancements in computer technology
the whole concept have been digitalized. A digital language lab is a language learning
software platform that would enable one to improve the overall communication skill of
the students