General overview of the use of ICT in the teaching and learning of foreign languages

Abstract

The application of information and communication technology (ICT) to the teaching and learning of foreign languages has come a long way in the field of foreign language education. A good number of foreign language software developed by language software developers have been underutilized by foreign language teachers, thereby resulting to poor performance and attrition in foreign language learning most especially in the developing countries of the world. This problem cannot be divorced from teachers’ level of technical competence, availability and accessibility of computer and ICT facilities in schools and the attitude of foreign language teachers to the use of modem technology as an intervention in the foreign language classroom. In this paper however, the researchers discussed the extent to which foreign language teachers are reluctant to change from the conventional method of foreign language teaching in spite of the numerous advantages inherent in the use of ICT facilities and computer software in foreign language learning. We gave the general overview of the application, the use and the resultant effect of the information and communication technology (ICT ) and language software in enhancing the foreign language skills in the learners. It was therefore concluded that the significance of using ICT facilities in the teaching and learning of foreign languages is unquantifiable.