Don't Be Afraid, Teachers!

    

     After reading the Chapter 1 of Brave New Digital Classroom by Robert J. Blake, I was surprised by one of the myths, Technology Will Replace Teachers, about technology and SLA (Second Language Acquisition).

     Some teachers are afraid of being replaced by high-tech tools such as the use of the Internet.  They fear the school or institution might downsize the number of employees if it starts using technology in teaching considerably. 

     In my humble opinion, I do not regard the use of technology in teaching pose a threat to teachers.  On the contrary, it can be a great help.  As it has also written in this book, there are three main technological platforms to assist SLA: the web, CD-ROM, and net-work based communication.  Each platform provides different methods to help students to lead an effective and successful language learning process.  The technology has adopted widely in teaching nowadays. 

     Although the computer is considered as smart as human beings, they can never replace the human.  To me, one of the most important aspects in teaching and learning is the teacher-student interaction.  It is true that computer programs are able to respond to some certain questions and make people feel there is “interaction” between it and themselves.  However, the so recognized interaction is all about mouse clicking and keyboard typing.  If the program is not well-constructed, which is impossible for the complicated formation of language, culture, and history, it cannot answer some specific language questions.  Since we are mortals, who possess the ability of thinking and feeling, we are able to “interact” with others, and to deal with elaborate questions, which intervene with “humanities” issues.  Thus, the teacher will never be substituted.

      “Everyone seems to forget to answer the questions of who will teach those distance learning courses, write the curriculum, and train students to work with in this format.” This sentence best described the simplest reason that why the teachers do not have to be afraid of being replaced.  Even if it is true, the teachers cannot be satisfied with the current situation for it is more globalized and technology-using widespread in this modern society and teaching circumstance.  “The technology will not replace teachers in the future, but rather teachers who use technology will probably replace teachers who do not” (Clifford 1987, 13).