Using technology into everyday learning of the English Language

Swati Rai

The pandemic marches forward, unrelenting and continues to impose a virtual learning and teaching environment. A no brainer that technology and the digital offerings can be tapped successfully in learning and honing English language skills. However, while there’s a tech boom in the times we live in, that too at the click of a button, there is a problem of plenty too, concomitantly.

 It is not enough to be surrounded by latest gadgets 24×7, and tinkering about aimlessly. This applies equally to a classroom situation where a ‘Smart Class’ isn’t necessarily the one where such a technology has been installed, but is one in which the teacher/trainer helming the session is ‘smart’. One who is aware of using tech judiciously and relevantly to meet the expected outcomes of the lesson. While at home, apart from online classes in the subject, here are a few more ways of constructive, timebound and monitored engagement with technology that can help in honing English language skills of children at home.

 Apps Galore

 There are many applications available that could aid us in our journey to becoming proficient users of the English language. Best to identify the weak areas and use those particular app functions, accordingly.  Different apps offer varied field focus and practice areas. A few offer ways to contact the same level proficiency language speaker for practice and reinforcement for conversational English. Pronunciation practice with specific sounds in mind may be rehearsed here, graded vocabulary games, key grammar aspects and listening practice for detail and specific information on topics of one’s interest may be looked at. There are age specific sections as well as proficiency based segments. Clarity in the intended area of study and deep dive needs to be first etched out, sometimes in consultation with the teacher, so that the practice area is focussed on in toto. There are English language based podcasts that are also helpful in catering to skills and varied facets of language learning. Discussion and Learning chat forums are also found online to brush up on concepts and practice newly learnt lexis.  Dictionary apps and thesaurus checks are dime a dozen, so are ready to edit software, the tact and appropriacy In using them is where the efficacy lies.

Other handy resources

Real life English language learning will only be aided when a direct connect is made with what one is engaging with online, on a daily basis. Google Search, Google Translate, YouTube channels are also ways to making learning of the language, a real life experience. There are ways in which one can do so and integrate and interweave similar practices in everyday learning. Google search may be used to find out usually recurring pattern of lexis (vocabulary) such as collocations, fixed phrases and phrasal verbs, for which a regular exposure to such instances is required. There is an option of listening to the word searched according to Indian and Global accents as well, this could be used to check the pronunciation when in a quandary.

A handy difference between words that are frequently mistakenly substituted is another way of using the search option, apart from the usual cross referencing and checking ways. The Translate option in many is another way to practice language in your own time. Translating a text or a word from any other language and testing it against the translation offered by Google is one of the ways to corroborate one’s understanding  but of course take an expert opinion to cross check never goes waste.

YouTube videos of one’s choice watched with subtitles off could help in ear training and identifying difficult sounds, when heard repeatedly, with the subtitles on, later. The same could be done with movies of one’s liking and also with News bits that one may be interested in. Exposing oneself to varied accents with the audio and video options is another way of utilising resources for specific area improvement.

Reading skill of skimming and scanning may be enhanced with a subscription to a magazine or paper of your liking and participating in online discussions keeping in mind Netiquette essentials. Technology is mutating into a newer version, every nano second. This proliferation of AI enabled Digital tech, is merging the real and virtual and how! It is time to claim all that is human- which is the faculty of weighing in and considering the best way forward to integrate learning through tech in our lives in a mindful manner. Else, it’s a lost battle.