Technology and the future of language teaching

TLDR

Language teaching today is surrounded by unprecedented digital opportunities—social media, AI, big data, and AR—yet teachers often feel overwhelmed and struggle to select appropriate tech resources for specific lessons. The article explores how technology‑mediated social interactions can be harnessed to engage learners and encourage extensive language practice.

Abstract

Abstract We are living in a time with unprecedented opportunities to communicate with others in authentic and compelling linguistically and culturally contextualized domains. In fact, language teachers today are faced with so many fascinating options for using technology to enhance language learning that it can be overwhelming. Even for those who are inclined to experiment with emerging technologies, it can be challenging to identify which resources, tools, or Web sites may best fit a particular lesson, activity, or goal. Many of the most compelling opportunities are situated within the same global social and technology trends that have become commonplace in our daily lives, including social media, artificial intelligence, big data, and augmented reality. This article addresses the extent to which technology‐mediated social interactions dominate our daily lives, how we can leverage those interactions to the benefit of our learners, and how we can engage them in learning experiences in ways that will encourage them to practice language extensively.