Teaching English Through Technology: A Reflective Self-Study on Integrating Digital Tools in Higher Education
Keywords:
English language teaching, educational technology, digital tools, reflective self-study, higher educationAbstract
In the digital era, integrating technology into language instruction has become essential to create learning experiences that are creative, interactive, and relevant to students’ needs. This paper presents an autobiographical self-study reflecting on the author’s experience in teaching English using four key digital tools: Canva, TikTok, Prezi and Spotify Podcast. Each tool was purposefully applied to enhance specific language skills, such as vocabulary retention, collaborative speaking, dynamic presentation skills, and audio-based speaking and listening. Drawing on the self-study guidelines, this reflective inquiry emphasizes honesty, contextual sensitivity, and a commitment to pedagogical improvement. The reflection demonstrates that the integration of digital tools, initially selected to foster creative and relevant English learning, was effectively enacted through diverse classroom practices and ultimately generated insights into the author’s evolving role as an adaptive and transformative facilitator of learning. This study seeks to inspire fellow educators to implement technology-enhanced language learning in their own classrooms.
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