The Importance of ICT in Language Learning

The Importance of ICT in Language Learning

According to Muijs & Reynolds (2008) cited in Abdurrachman Faridi (2009) said that  exploiting of ICT for education, especially English learning, has become compulsion which is can’t be procrastinated again. Various application of ICT has available in society and ready be exploited optimally for education. Exploiting of information technology and communications for education can be executed in many form according to its function in education. Watson (1993) cited in Abdurrachman Faridi (2009) said  that the growing fast of communications technology and information has an effect on various aspect human life. It is an undeniable fact that most of students nowadays can enjoy having new technology either at homes or at schools. For this, it is quite possible for them to have ICT for learning. The purpose of having this kind of method is that students will have two advantages at the same time, the linguistic aspects and the content. For the linguistic aspects, firstly, they will learn the English sound system through spelling, secondly the grammar, by combining words into longer utterances, and finally the choice of words or vocabulary. While for the content, ICT let the students learn (assisted by the teacher) the variety of language used within a certain subject. Teaching technique using chalk and talk or explanation is not popular anymore. By this fact, suggested that the teacher uses internet within his teaching learning process and it is also compulsory for the students to learn to use it. The Internet is a must, because it can be used (1) as the source of knowledge (2) as an aid for learning (instructional aid)(3) as teaching or learning facility (4) as a standard of competency (5) as an administrative equipment (6) as a supporting equipment for the school management (7) as an educational infrastructure. Beside the aforementioned aspects, there are additional factors to consider. Among others are (a) the environmental factor which consists of school or institution holding the activity (b) students who learn, their ages, social and economical background, the language and literacy of IT, the variety of learning (c) the teacher, consists of the background of the teacher, the age, the teaching style, the experience and the personality (d) factors of technology which consists of computer, software, internet network and other application of EducateNet at schools.

Along progress of science technological and artistic which is developed now in fact can be grasped on student’s hand without second calculation. Through world  illusory (internet) study of  English language become more interesting Muijs & Reynolds (2008) cited in Abdurrachman Faridi (2009). so that,  needed innovation stages steps  learning of English base on ICT  in order to increasing the quality of education Indonesian nation.