Page 168 - Teaching English at Primary Level: From Theory into the Classroom

Going Online

Table 11.1 Advantages and Drawbacks of Online, Virtual Learning with YLs
Advantages Drawbacks
• Task based learning (YLs take their own • Internet security to guarantee YLs’ safety
photos, produce short movies, audio clips, (strict school rules on the computer and in-
using their e.g. mobile phones). ternet use are needed).
• Completing the task(s) at their own pace. • Finding time to research and track down
• Sharing and comparing their task(s), person- suitable age- and level appropriate web-
alisation of work. sites, activities, interactive games, materials;
• Exposure to FL outside the classroom (e.g. can be time consuming for FL teachers.
videos, e-games, websites, film clips, e- • Bad mood and behaviour (when YLs expe-
quizzes, stories, songs, picture dictionaries). rience fast moving images and sounds); low
• Formative assessment (overview of the self-motivation.
tasks, teacher’s feedback, and opportunities • YLs need support from the FL teacher or
to improve the tasks). their parents and cannot work individually.
• Extra learning resources online (for differen- • SomeYLs mayspend toomuchtimeonline.
tiation). • Some YLs may expect the FL teacher to be
available 24/7.

learning (Hockly & Clandfield, 2010) so the language course is partly deliv-
ered online and partly in a classroom. It is also useful to distinguish between
asynchronous and synchronous learning. The former occurs independently
of time and place which means learners can access pre-recorded lectures,
materials, and assignments at their own pace. Synchronous learning, on
the other hand, involves real-time interaction between teachers and learn-
ers, often through live online sessions, video conferencing, or virtual class-
rooms.

Advantages and Drawbacks of Online Education with YLs
There are both advantages and drawbacks related to using online instruction
with YLLs.A majoradvantageisthepossibilityofusingcolourfulonlinevisual
images, combined with sound, animation, and interactivity which can easily
attract their attention and work as a motivational tool. Table 11.1 summarizes
some of the most common advantages and drawbacks of using online, vir-
tual instruction with YLs.

Planning and Performing Online Live Education with YL
Online education requires careful preparation and planning from the lan-
guage teachers who need to focus on both FL and ICT skills in an integrated
way. It is therefore advisable for the teachers to:

• have a clear idea of the lesson objectives and type of activities which

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