The Internet as an Essential Classroom Language Teaching and Learning Tool in Today’s High Tech Generation: a Case Study on Students at Kolej Universiti Islam Sultan Azlan Shah

Abstract

Technology in language learning has been seen as just one of the many methods of language teaching. However, in today’s multimedia era when many people, particularly the younger generation are preoccupied with modern gadgets and social networking, the use of advanced technology in the classroom has become a necessity rather than a luxury for language teachers. This study investigates the role of modern technology in language learning with special emphasis on the internet. In this study the researcher used the internet as a basic educational tool in classroom learning. With the help of the internet in the language lab, the researcher used online resources, online exercises and the Sanako interactive language learning tool. The present researcher experimented with regular English lab sessions, surveyed, observed and recorded the learning process of 170 students from 5 different classes at Kolej Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah. In a survey to get the students’ feedback on the lab sessions, the majority of the students found that the lab sessions eased and enlightened their learning process, stimulated their interest and provided a relaxed, non-stressful learning atmosphere. In the teacher’s experiment and observation, several benefits have been noted. Firstly, the chat rooms available in the Sanako learning tool enabled students to conduct group discussion under the teacher’s supervision. Secondly, the quick access to an array of sources of information and materials from the internet aided faster learning and stimulated higher order thinking skills. Thirdly, it fostered independent learning among the students. Fourthly, unlimited learning resources and materials could be sent to the students in paperless form. Besides that, the internet as a communication tool enabled teachers to provide feedback on students’ written work quickly and efficiently.