Assoc. Prof. Tamas Kiss

KEYNOTE

'Hey, teacher, leave the kids alone!' Technology in the language classroom

This talks explores the use of technology in the language classroom and asks whether technology is a possible alternative to teachers and face-to-face teaching in the future. Are we replaceable by applications, software, Web 2.0, cloud computing, hand-held devices? Is there a hope for us to survive the technological maelstrom which seems to engulf teachers and threaten our existence? I will systematically discuss these important questions by focusing on three key issues: a) the nature of human communication, b) engagement and learning, and finally c) literacy in the 21st century.

I will make a case for the need to incorporate new technologies in the classroom in order not to replace teachers, but to develop new language skills (viewing and representing) brought about changes in literacy practices. I strongly believe that language learners need to develop critical reading/viewing skills in the era of 'fake news' and have to acquire the skills to produce multimodal texts if they want to be active, empowered members of a society. Yet, I will emphasize the importance of human interaction in shared space and time, over conversations mediated through technology and/or with Artificial Intelligence (AI). After all, human language is socially acquired - opposed to other forms of language - and it is a feature that makes us who we are. Therefore, language teachers should consider themselves more than transmitters of linguistic information; we are, in fact, ambassadors of human communication.

WORKSHOP

Multimodal design and English language teaching

As our definition of literacy is changing, language teachers should consider moving beyond the traditional use of the term to address issues connected to multiliteracy and multimodality. As early as the 1980s scholars have realized that traditional literacy practices are supplemented, and in some cases, replaced my multimodal design elements to communicate messages. Therefore, to be literate in the 21st century students need to learn how to interpret multimodal designs and create rich texts that rely on a variety of modalities. This workshop will look at some tools and techniques that teachers can use in their classrooms to raise their learners' awareness of multimodal literacy and enable them to consciously choose design elements to communicate their messages. Such skills will help them become more critical consumers of visual texts which is a vital skill in the age of 'fake news'.