The Use of Multimedia in English Teaching

The Use of Multimedia in English Teaching

The Definition of Multimedia

         Multimedia is the exciting combination of computer hardware and software that allows you to integrate video, animation, audio, graphics, and test resources to develop effective presentations on an affordable desktop computer.
         Multimedia is the use of a computer to present and combine text, graphics, audio, and video with links and tools that let the user navigate, interact, create, and communicate. This definition contains four components essential to multimedia. First, there must be a computer to coordinate what you see and hear, and to interact with. Second, there must be links that connect the information. Third, there must be navigational tools that let you traverse the web of connected information. Finally, because multimedia is not a spectator sport, there must be ways for you to gather, process, and communicate your own information and ideas.
   
                                        

Components of Multimedia

          Multimedia is composed of text, graphics, animation, sound, and video.

      Text : It is fundamental element in all multimedia application, so teacher can use different font size, color, and style to present information for emphasize a certain word or phrase.

          Graphics : Graphics plays a very important role in language teaching process because it can stimulate interesting and motivation, improve understanding ability of language that refers to images and pictures, such as chart, diagram, and photograph, which contain no movement.

          Animation : Animation is the rapid display of sequence of image of 2D or 3D artwork. Assisted by the use of animation, teacher can highlight key knowledge points and heighten students' motivation.

     Sound : It can use more vivid and fruitful sound to help students’ English learning .

        Video : It is the visible part of a television transmission and broadcasts visual image of stationary or moving objects. Compared with animation, video can offer more vivid information. But it will consume more storage space than animation.

The Setting of Multimedia Classroom

         1.MPC : multimedia personal computer

         2.VCD/DVD player : video compound disk/digital video disk

         3.Amplifier and Hi-Fi acoustic system

         4.Overhead/slide projector

         5.Screen/curtain

         6.Projecting apparatus

         7.The Internet access

         8.Cassette tape recorder
               9.Camera recorder

The Current Status of Multimedia Teaching Method in College English Teaching

         College English Teaching is to set up a harmonious and high-effective teaching atmosphere make students take

part in the practice developing the students’ English intercommunicative ability. The answer

is not the grammar, nor the word differentiation, but the real. The interaction and

intelligence of the multimedia courseware become good medicine for mute English

students.

The Multimedia Teaching

To using multimedia in classroom, there is both advantage and disadvantage. So, teacher should their students when they find the problems. Those are as followings:
Advantages 

   - Arousing the students' interest.

   - Improving students' self-learning ability.

   - Improving students' innovative ability.

   - Cultivating students' communication skills.

   - Increasing classroom capacity.

Strategies for Using Multimedia

Combining Modern Teaching Methods With Traditional Teaching Methods

     Teachers should combine their strong points with modern teaching methods, which not only raise classroom teaching quality and efficiency, but also improve teaching and learning environment between teachers and students.

Viewing Multimedia as the Assistance to Teaching

   Application of multimedia technology aims to improve teaching, but teaching is not intended for multimedia. There is no doubt that teaching needs multimedia, but using multimedia, but using multimedia does not mean enhancing teaching efficiency.Multimedia can only be used as a supplement to classroom English teaching.

Building the Ideal Relationship Between Teachers and Students.

Strengthening Teachers Training.

   Multimedia assisted English teaching requires teachers with multimedia computer operating experience.

The Principles of Multimedia-Assisted Teaching.

   1.Scientific principle. Namely, courseware design cannot appear any errors.

   2.Subsidiary principle. It is only a supplementary means, and does not substitute for the role of people.

   3.Interactivity principle. More interactivity between teachers and students, students and multimedia, more effective results we will have.

   4.Combination principle. Combine the advantages of modern teaching and the traditional teaching organically.