Using Technology to Teach Foreign Language

                           In most schools in the United States, technology is used in the classrooms at least sometimes to aid with the regular teaching process and to enhance the learning experience.
Computers can be used to help the education process in general, such as smart boards, however they can also help teach multiple subject areas such as art, science, math, writing and even foreign language. Although computers are being implemented in schools more and more each year, the idea is not to completely replace the old ideas and ways of teaching. Computers are not trying to kick the teachers out of the classroom. Instead, computers and technology in general should be used to compliment the regular learning that is already going on in the classroom.  
                           The first way in which technology can aid in the pedagogy of foreign language is with the use of computer generated language learning sites such as Quia.com. With websites like Quia, when a language learning textbook is purchased, some will come with a code for Quia. With this code, students who have the textbook can go online and do online exercises that compliment and match the material that is being taught in the class. Students can go online and do all sorts of different activities which can include but are not limited to; conjugations of verbs, matching vocabulary words and expressions, fill in the blank questions, and even personal response questions. A good thing about this site, is most exercises are self-graded and offer explanations to wrong answers.
                          Another way in which technology can aid in the pedagogy of foreign language is computer programs such as Discussion Board and Voicethread. Discussion Board is an online area where students can write, comment, post, and view their own or others work and share it in a common area. With Discussion Board, the teacher can post an assignment or even an announcement to the Board. To benefit the students, the Discussion Board allows the students to be able to view, read and comment on their peers’ work. With this advantage, the students can help fix each other’s problem’s which in return helps them to grasp the material themselves. The computer program Voicethread is also extremely helpful for the students learning. Voicethread is essentially the same as Discussion Board except with more audio features. With Voicethread the students and teacher can post, and comment on each others work, but this time with an audio aid. The recording feature in Voicethread is great for a teacher of foreign language because it allows the teacher to hear the students’ voices and evaluate their pronunciation of the words.

                         Another great computer resource that can really benefit the students’ learning inside and outside of the classroom is Skype. Skype is a computer program in which two people can have a webcam chat with video and audio if they choose. Skype can greatly benefit students of a foreign language by having “Skype pals.” Some schools have begun to give their students ”Skype pals” which means that the students will be given a buddy to skype with who lives or is fluent in the language that the student is trying to learn. With this technology, the students can go online and chat with both audio and video to a person fluent in the given language, and the student will have the advantage of receiving listening and speaking practice.
                         To conclude, technology can act as a teacher's best friend if used correctly. With the examples I talked about to use technology in the classroom in terms of aiding in the pedagogy of Foreign Language, I can really help benefit my future students by using these different programs/technologies in the classroom.