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THE MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES IN LANGUAGE TEACHING
Khodjayeva Naima Sharafitdinovna
Head of the Department of Foreign Languages,
Academic Lyceum of Tashkent State University of
Economics
nanihon@inbox.ru
Alibayeva Munisa Rustamaliyevna
Tashkent
State
University
of
Economics
Academic Lyceum, English teacher
ABSTRACT:
Some highlights in the contribution of Multimedia resources in teaching
and learning of English language are to be outlined and the ways the Multimedia can assist in
English course planning are to be examined. Use of Multimedia resources is an essential subject
matter in English language education that it is presented all through this paper. In this paper we
come across more discussions of Multimedia related to the teaching English language skills.
Multimedia-assisted learning environments in addition to content-specific applications of
Multimedia in English language skills like Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing are to be
examined. This paper will also explore the Multimedia applications and the Internet, standards
for Multimedia-language students, and teaching and learning with Multimedia. Moreover I
endeavour to show some English teachers and students attitude towards use of Multimedia in
English language teaching. Finally the conclusions are drawn by means of the review of
literature indicated.
Key Words:
Multimedia Resources, Language Teaching, Skills Learning, Media,
Computer.
INTRODUCTION
The spread and development of English Language around the world, English
as a second language in India, enjoys prestige and authority of the first language in
India. Technology is one of the most significant drivers of both social and
linguistic change. Technology can solve problems at a stroke, and in general makes
areas of life easier, more entertaining or more efficient. Graddol (1999) states that,
“Technology lies at the heart of the globalization process; affecting educational
work and culture”. Since there are more and more English learners in India,
different teaching methods have been implemented to test the effectiveness of the
teaching process. One method involves the use of multimedia in the learning of
English language. Technology is utilized for the upliftment of modern styles; it
satisfies both visual and auditory senses of the students. According to David
Graddol, “It is the language at the leading edge of scientific and technological
development, new thinking in economies and management, new literatures and
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entertainment genre.”
With the rapid development of science and technology, the emerging and
developing of multimedia technology and its application to teaching, featuring
audio, visual, animation effects come into full play in English teaching class and
sets a favourable platform to reform and to explore on English teaching model in
the new era. “The rapidly developing technology of the English speaking countries
has made British and American television and radio programmes, films, recordings
and books readily available in all but the most undeveloped countries,” (Broughton
et al, 3). It is proved that multimedia technology plays a positive role in promoting
activities and initiatives of student and teaching effectively in the classroom.
Technological innovations have gone hand-in-hand with the growth of
English and are changing the way in which we communicate. “Printed core
materials, it was felt, would survive, but the demand for ‘a better fit’ meant that the
variety of add-ons would grow, and as technology developed and became more
available these supplements would be increasingly available online” (David Block,
165). Although nothing can fully replace an experienced teacher, technology has
done much to assist teachers in their efforts in the classroom. There are many
techniques applicable in various degrees to language learning situation. The
teaching principle should be to appreciate new technologies and functions where
they provide something decisively useful and never let machines take over the role
of the teacher.
MULTIMEDIA
Multimedia is the combination of different content forms. It includes a
combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, or interactivity content
forms. It is usually recorded and played, displayed, or accessed by information
content processing devices, such as computerized and electronic devices, but can
also be part of a live performance. Multimedia provides a complex multi-sensory
experience in exploring our world through the presentation of information through
text, graphics, images, audio and video, and there is evidence to suggest that a
mixture of words and pictures increases the likelihood that people can integrate a
large amount of information. Students learn best by seeing the value and
importance of the information presented in the classroom.
MULTIMEDIA LEARNING PROCEDURE:
A cognitive theory of multimedia learning has been presented by
researchers which is based on three assumptions suggested by cognitive science
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research about the nature of human learning — the dual channel assumption, the
limited capacity assumption, and the active learning assumption. The dual channel
assumption is that humans possess separate information processing systems for
visual and verbal representations. For example, animations are processed in
the visual/pictorial channel and spoken words (i.e., narrations) are
processed in the auditory/verbal channel. The limited capacity assumption is that
the amount of processing that can take place within each information processing
channel is extremely limited. In addition, the learner may convert some of the
spoken words into verbal representations for further processing in the verbal
channel whereas some of the animation can be converted into visual
representations for further processing in the visual channel. The learner must select
relevant aspects of the incoming images for further processing. The second set of
processes is to build a coherent mental representation of the verbal material (i.e.,
form a verbal model) and a coherent mental representation of the visual material
(i.e., form a pictorial model). These processes are called organizing. A third
process is to build connections between the verbal and pictorial models and with
prior knowledge. These processes are called integrating. The processes of
selecting, organizing, and integrating generally do not occur in a rigid linear order,
but rather in an iterative fashion. Once a learning outcome has been constructed, it
is stored in long-term memory for future use. According to the cognitive theory of
multimedia learning, meaningful learning depends on all three of these processes
occurring for the visual and verbal representations. According to this theory,
learners can engage in active learning (such as the processes of selecting,
organizing, and integrating) even when the presentation media do not allow hands-
on activity (such as printed text and illustrations, or animation and narration).
The challenge of multimedia instructional design is to prime and guide active
cognitive processing in learners so that learners construct meaningful internal
representations.
JUSTIFICATION FOR USING MULTIMEDIA:
Why would any teacher want to use multimedia materials in the classroom?
With the availability of improved technology, teachers who saw themselves as
―hip, cool, and hi-tech quickly incorporated the new tools, correctly perceiving
that slick multimedia presentations have a certain amount of entertainment value
for learners. “The use of video in the classroom also provided extra stimulation and
photocopiers (or Xerox machines as they used to be known) allowed content to be
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quickly reproduced and distributed” (Chin Paul, 5). Several studies show that
computer-based multimedia can improve learning and retention of material
presented during a class session or individual study period, as compared to
―traditional lectures or study materials that do not use multimedia. The potential
pedagogical value and rationale for using classroom media in these three points are
as follows:
To raise interest level – students appreciate (and often expect) a variety of
media.
To enhance understanding – rich media materials boost student
comprehension of complex topics, especially dynamic processes that unfold over
time.
To increase memorability – rich media materials lead to better encoding and
easier retrieval Relationship between Multimedia and Language Teaching.
The most common function of multimedia and internet is to assist the teacher
their association is as follows. Promote Interaction between Teachers and Students
the use of multimedia to carry out discovery, discussions and instructions to
change the role of teacher in teaching and arrange students to participate
appropriately; educators change from the messenger of informational instruction to
the operator of instruction.
Help Teachers to teach suitably the use of multimedia enables the teachers to
have more flexibility and change while teaching and the development of
multimedia enables the teachers to understand the learning types and differences of
students when while teaching.
Promote Students’ Study Capacity the learners can practice themselves
through multimedia repeatedly to train their ability to react and this is not restricted
by time and space; therefore, they could learn by themselves to obtain limitless
learning capacity besides the limited teaching time.
Blend the Multimedia Design with diverse Teaching Materials. Multimedia
could combine the picture, animation, sound, and text to assist learners, where the
picture or animation could offset the deficiency of text and sound could allow the
learners to experience the real scenario, which is favourable to the learning of
language.
USE OF GRAPHICS AND PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH
LANGUAGE TEACHING
Some graphics software like Microsoft PowerPoint can tremendously improve
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many of the presentations language instructors use in teaching. In the recent times,
“the English teachers considered Power Point to be a simple multi-media
application that encourages the students to study set texts analytically” (Goodwyn,
63). Such software graphics packages allow teachers as well as students to copy
and create images, set the timing of material, formulate charts and graphs and
make excellent visual presentations in English language classrooms. These
graphics and presentations can help teachers to organize his content and place it in
a dynamic format for an effective teaching. On the other hand, flashy graphics are
no substitute for a well—rehearsed presentation. During presentation, the text
presented on the Overhead Projector screen must also support the material
presented orally.
PEDAGOGICAL RELEVANCE IN THE USE OF MULTIMEDIA IN
LANGUAGE LEARNING
At present the main concern is all about the use of Multimedia to improve
language teaching and learning. In fact there is no correlation between the learning
language and using the language in a real situation in day to day life. Many
language experts stated that schools need to move beyond the emphasis on subject
content required by the present language students and focus more on 21st century
dominant themes, like use various Multimedia resources and information and
communication technology in teaching and learning.
CONCLUSION:
Teachers can incorporate multimedia learning into their classroom by
identifying the learning styles of each of their students, matching teaching methods
to learners’ multimedia learning for difficult tasks, strengthening weaker learners’
multimedia learning through easier tasks and drill, and teaching students, selection
of learning strategies. Multimedia offers teachers enormous opportunities for
making learning and teaching environment meaningful and effective. The one of
the ultimate goals of multimedia language teaching is to promote students’
motivation and learning interest, which can be a practical way to get them involved
in the language learning. Therefore, it promises that the teaching quality will be
improved and students’ applied English skill scan is effectively cultivated,
meaning that students’ communicative competence will be further developed. This
process can fully improve students’ ideation and practical language skills, which is
helpful and useful to ensure and fulfil an effective result of teaching and learning
Technology is not a proxy for time and money - it needs to work effectively. A
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teacher cannot be a substitute of technology and hence he must not compromise his
positive role in the classroom while using technological aids in the classroom.
References
1.
Chin, Paul. Using C & IT to Support Teaching. London and New York:
Routledge. 2004.
2.
Print.
3.
Clyde, William and Delohery, Andrew. Using Technology in Teaching. New
Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2005. Print.
4.
Broughton, Geoffrey, et al. Teaching English as
a
Foreign
Language.
London and New York: Routledge. 1980. Print.
5.
Block, David and Cameron, Deborah, Ed. Globalization and Language
Teaching. London and New York: Routledge. 2002. Print.
6.
Erben, Tony and Ban, Ruth. Teaching Language Learners through Technology.
New York and London: Routledge, 2009. Print.
7.
Goodwyn, Andrew, Ed. English in the Digital Age – Information and
Communications Technology and the Teaching of English Language. London
and New York: Cassell, 2000. Print.
8.
Field, Kit, Ed. Issues in Modern Foreign Languages Teaching. London and
New York: Routledge. 2000. Print.
