One thing that drives me crazy in class sometimes is that some students who have high computer skills get totally distracted by what the internet has to offer. Other students who have language problems get bored when they get asked to do a task on a computer. What they really like is to get involved in a class activity rather than getting themselves to talk to a stupid machine like the computer. No matter how interactive a program may be, they become unhappy. Others, on the other hand, get excited about using a computer in class and feel happy developing their computer skills. I found that to be true when I dealt with students who come from poor countries like Burma and Somalia.
The trick in teaching is that when you teach a lesson in class, it is exactly like serving food. Some people are vegetarians, while others eat different sorts of foods. Having taught for 20 years in different settings, I can safely say that you DO NOT need a computer at all to have a successful class. Students like to listen to the teacher when they need clarification for certain points. They like to learn from each other in carefully planned lessons that involve information gaps. The internet makes things easier to get and understand but at the end of the day, it comes down to listening, speaking, reading and writing. A good book can provide all of that.






