Information and Communication Technology in English Language Education: A Review and Future Research Directions

摘要

This study investigates the current research progress of the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in English Language Teaching (ELT) and its educational implication by drawing upon the empirical evidences provided by recent related studies. The findings show that current ELT research on ICT usage becomes more detailed with specific ELT skills. Among four basic sub-skills, the integration of ICT into receptive skills including reading and listening seems to be more successful than that of productive skills (writing and speaking). The research also finds that possible challenges for using ICT in ELT includes financial concerns from schools, technical concerns of limited ICT skills and stability of Internet, and also pedagogical concerns of classroom management issues from teachers, implying that more detailed and comprehensive studies should be conducted into the relevant field.