Technology in Language Education and Communication: Pedagogical Promises and Worries

Technology has revolutionized all walks of human life. Accordingly, language pedagogy has been greatly affected by technological innovations as well. However, like any other change, the new developments have brought both positive and negative influences into the field of language learning and teaching. The present paper briefly reviews some of the crucial innovations including classroom technology, computer-assisted language learning, computer-mediated communication, and multimedia equipment. The incorporation of these technological advances has facilitated pedagogical endeavors on the one hand and has spawned undesirable consequences on the other. Faster and more engaging presentation of materials in a meaningful context and ease of distant communication is on the bright side whereas, marginalization of whole-person learning and affective dimensions constitute the dark side. Therefore, a few implications and suggestions are presented to help teachers and planners cope with the drawbacks while exploiting the potentials of technology to the benefit of all stakeholders within the field of language pedagogy

کلیدواژه ها:

Technology ، CALL ، Computer-Mediated Communication ، Acquisition