Technology for Speaking and Listening

I think every student agree that teaching and learning must be fun. Method that using in class also must appropriate and interesting. Based on comprehensible approach, learning language must be low stress. Teaching with technology must be suitable with that statement.

Students can enhance their speaking and listening by themselves. Comprehension must come before productive skills. That’s why students have to listen first to acquire language. Mostly, teacher is considered as the role model for students. They listen to teacher’s instruction, words, and also pronunciation.  For TPR (Total Physical Response), teacher usually gives command and then students do the command without saying anything. If it implicates to technology, students can use TPR games from internet. Technology can make students have low anxiety, they won’t feel embarrassing if they make some mistakes, because there is only human-computer communication. Besides, students can use technology as many times as they want and whenever they want. For natural approach, teacher can use song or video to enhance students’ listening skills. If they are often listening to the music, they will learn a lot of things, such as vocabularies, idioms, etc. After they listen, they have to try their speaking skills. One of important thing from speaking skill is pronunciation, because English is inconsistent. There are some website that can give example to pronounce. Students can watch the video about how to pronounce and then students can imitates it. Besides, grammar is also important. Chatting is one of technology that can be used in class and also outside the class, like schmooze. The teacher also still can monitor the students in the chatting room. Teacher can correct students’ grammar through the conversation. 

Technology is good helper for students and teacher, though there are some weaknesses, such as internet access, expertise of the technology, computer, etc. for me, with or without technology teaching and learning activities must be fun in the class, so students can enjoy ad acquire language subconciously.