As a college student and a language enthusiast I’ve been noticing that a recent trend in language learning is to go whole hog on technology. Anything that can be done in a new way must be done so. Verb drills? How about online verb drills! Write a few words on the board? How about on a PowerPoint! Lunchtime conversation group? Try lunchtime conversation chatroom! It’s been getting a bit absurd recently, and it’s proliferated to the point where when I was studying French in high school a mere three years ago there was almost no technology used, whereas now, learning it in college, it is used pervasively. It feels to me as though much of the new media used to aid language learning either adds nothing worthwhile or adds a little bit but is too complicated to warrant its supremacy over the old way. I feel that I’ve spent practically as much time being oriented for convoluted computer programs and online systems as I’ve spent actually learning. Do note that I’m not criticizing all technology use in language learning-- I just feel that it’s necessary to take a step back when suddenly it’s ambiguous whether the technology is helping people learn languages or whether the languages are simply providing a content context for shiny new advances in technology.
How do educators feel about this? Is this only my experience, or do others perceive this sudden ramping up of technology too?