ICT Integration in English Language Classrooms: Practices, Opportunities, and Challenges

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the practices, opportunities, and challenges of ICT integration in English language teaching.To accomplish this, data were purposively collected from seven English language teachers of the Rupandehi district through semi-structured interviews. The study reveals that The integration of ICT is essential for English language teachers. It not only makes teaching learning process more interactive and interesting, but also motivates the students and makes the lessons goal-oriented. It also integrates four language skills for effective learning.Teachers employ ICT tools to prepare teaching materials, to plan lessons, and evaluate students. Teachers use various ICT tools, such as mobile, laptop, iPod, internet, email, and social media apps in language classrooms. ICT helps the teachers be up to date with recent innovation and new trends of teaching, making the classroom teaching more practical and interactive. It helps the teachers and students collaborate and interact to each other, fostering students’ creativity, logical power and critical thinking strategy. It promotes higher order thinking to evaluate the knowledge and skills. However, teachers face various challenges, such as lack of confidence, motivation, and technical knowledge of using ICT in the classrooms.