Strategies for Teaching Languages with Digital Tools

Keeping up with the digital skills necessary to maintain motivation and engagement in a language classroom can be a challenge for teachers. Incorporating technology into language learning allows students to take an active role, promoting communication and collaboration among classmates. Digital tools can be utilized for various purposes, including introducing new topics, summarizing existing content, personalizing lessons, assessing student performance, and encouraging learners to produce their own work, thereby fostering their creativity.

The recent edition of the course “Teaching Languages in the Digital Era: Best Apps, Web Platforms, and ICT Solutions for Language Learning” took place in Tenerife from  03/11/2024 - 09/11/2024. Participants joined from various parts of Europe, Auksė, Sandra and Sigita from Panevezys Mintis gymnasium in Lithuania, Alice from VHS Weiden-Neustadt in Germany, Jannicke and Nina from Hønefoss vgs in Norway, Darija from Djecji vrtic Petar Pan in Croatia, Friedemann from Städt. Lion-Feuchtwanger-Gymnasium München in Germany, Holger from Carl-Theodor-Schule Schwetzingen in Germany, Silke from Leine-Schule Neustadt in Germany

During the course, participants explored a range of technological tools and learned how to seamlessly integrate them into their teaching practices. These tools not only enhance engagement and motivation but also help monitor progress in vocabulary acquisition, communication skills, and individual assignments.

The course provided participants with numerous practical activities, allowing them to experience the tools directly. For instance, they took part in a live quiz while learning to design interactive language quizzes through a web application. Quiz flashcards, in particular, can be very effective in enhancing students’ vocabulary and spelling skills.
Among the tools explored in this course were web platforms tailored for developing language presentations. Participants had the opportunity to create and showcase their own projects in a supportive environment, equipping them to incorporate these resources into their classrooms in the future.

Furthermore, participants discovered tools that allow users to outline and summarize lesson content, prepare grammar presentations, ask questions, and track student engagement in the classroom, which is especially crucial in the age of distance learning. They also examined platforms that simplify the creation of worksheets and explainer videos.
Participants also explored specialized platforms that enrich language learning by enabling teachers to add voice notes, questions, and voiceovers to educational videos, transforming them into comprehensive lessons. They investigated tools for editing images and videos, which are highly effective for instructional use. These tools can fulfill various purposes, such as creating multimedia content, introducing new topics, summarizing earlier lessons, and encouraging students to produce their own work, thereby fostering their creativity.

Learning languages can be challenging, but by employing the right tools and integrating technology into the classroom, we can greatly boost motivation, concentration, engagement, and learning abilities. This method turns a typical lesson into an immersive experience.

Discover more about this course here.