Learning languages in the digital era: useful ICT tools for challenging processes

​Nowadays, for a teacher it is important to improve their digital skills to keep their students motivated, involved and enthusiastic when it comes to teaching languages. Using technology in language learning allows students to assume an active role and to communicate and cooperate with their classmates. With technological tools in support of language learning we can reach a variety of purposes, for example introducing a new subject or summing up an old one, personalizing  lessons and engaging their students’ creativity and getting them deeply into the contents and, mostly, to make students feel more connected to the language and culture that they are studying.

The new edition of the course “Teaching languages in the digital era: the best apps, web platforms and ICT solutions for learning languages​” took place in Palermo from 15/10/2023 to 21/10/2023. The participants came from Austria and Poland, with Werner from BHAK/BHAS Wörgl and Marta and Małgorzata from Fundacja Rozwoju KUL.

During this course participants learned how to use various programs and technological tools and to integrate into their teaching methods. We started hearing from everyone the expectations they had for that week by using an app and creating a short presentation. The following tool we used was very engaging and gave us the chance to discover a bit more about every participant through a self-presentation. With another app we made a presentation sitting the participants’ schools on a map, with their conditions and looks.

In addition, participants knew about tools to summarize the contents of a lesson and prepare for instance grammar presentations, pose questions and monitor students’ attention in the classroom, particularly during these times when distance learning is very used. They also analyzed useful platforms for creating worksheets and explainer videos in an easy way.
​Participants also discovered specific useful platforms for language learning, since they allow teachers to add voice notes, questions and voiceovers to educational videos, making them into lessons. They also explored effective tools for editing pictures and videos, which can be used for many purposes: preparing multimedia content, introducing or summing up a subject, challenging the students to create their work to engage their creativity.

Learning a new language can be challenging, so for this reason it is important to use the right tools, incorporating technology, into the classroom. We are pretty sure that this can increase students’ motivation, attention, engagement and learning skills, transforming a simple lesson into an immersive and interesting experience.

Discover more about this course here.