Edu-Tech teaching strategy and the speaking skills

Abstract

Nowadays, technology is commonly used to improve education at all levels, it means that combining its efficient use with professional learning can develop and reinforce collaboration in foreign language teaching. Edu-tech is all about linking theories, methodologies, tools, devices, strategies, procedures, programs and resources with learning content and with activities to be developed by learners. In this light, the main objective of this study was to determine how educational technology is used to develop the speaking skills of English language learners. This objective helped to analyze the usefulness of technological resources and identify the tools and activities managed in lessons. In addition, this investigation was aimed to compare the perceptions of teachers as well as learners about the use of technology for educational purposes. In the development of this research, a descriptive phenomenological methodology was applied. The participants were a total of 24: 23 students from the fifth semester of Carrera de Pedagogía de los Idiomas Nacionales y Extranjeros at Universidad Técnica de Ambato, as well as one teacher of this group. The data was collected by using a survey, applied to students; an interview, directed to the teacher; and four class observations. Through the investigation, it was possible to find out that the significant use of technology as well as technological resources for educational purposes, provided opportunities to expand communication interactions through the frequent application of web-based activities to develop speaking skills as well as a the reinforcement of pronunciation and vocabulary building.