The Integration of ICTs in EFL Teaching in Ecuadorian High Schools: One Country, Two Realities

Abstract

This research study starts from the premise that the integration of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in education is the key to the ultimate improvement of EFL teaching. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine whether the complete integration of ICTs in EFL education in Ecuadorian high schools can materialize or not by examining the diverse realities and perceptions of English teachers and students from public and private high schools. Using the quantitative methodology, this study analyzed the data obtained by administering surveys regarding the use of ICTs to 24 English teachers whose ages ranged between 26 to 50 years old and had teaching experiences that went from 2 to 25 years along with 2520 students whose ages ranged between 11 to 17 years old, equally spread among six public and six private Ecuadorian high schools in three different cities: Quito, Guayaquil, and Machala. The findings show that private high schools are better equipped technologically speaking with full access to ICTs, their staff is mostly ready to work with them and their student population has also complete access to ICTs at home at school and show a positive attitude towards such integration, whereas public high schools are poorly-equipped regarding technology, their teaching staff is under-qualified to work with said technologies in the class and their student population has little or no access to them at home, which makes them have a negative attitude towards the said process. This leads to the conclusion that the successful integration of ICTs in EFL teaching is only feasible in private Ecuadorian high schools due to their advantageous position when compared to their public peers.

Integrating Ict in Efl Classroom

“…There has been several interesting developments in research which investigate about integrating ICT in EFL classroom. Several studies have already indicated that study defines the successful integration of ICTs in EFL teaching is only feasible in private Ecuadorian high schools due to their advantageous position when compared to their public peers (Medina, 2021). Another study indicated that ICT Integration in EFL Classrooms: Benefits and Challenges (Sari et al, 2018).…”

EdTech and the Saudi EFL learners: Bane or boon?

“…English as a Foreign Language is a heavily government sponsored academic field next only to Science and Technology (Tryzna & Al Sharoufi, 2017). It is one of the stated aims of the education policy to "Ensure alignment of educational outputs with labour market needs" under the Human Capability Development Program (Saudi Vision 2030, 2021 which "aims to prepare Saudi citizens for the job market and to be able to compete globally. It will do this through developing basic and future skills, developing knowledge and values that enhance the 21st century and global citizenship skills."…”