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1、An Analysis of English Teachers Role in the Days of InternetAbstract: Since the day when computer-assisted English instruction came out, the English teachers role has been changing. Nowadays, a computer can be regarded as a tutor, a kind of tool or media. Meanwhile, the English teacher may become a
2、consulter, leader and adviser. This report focuses on the analysis of the possible roles that a teacher is supposed to take in different times and the change of the English teachers roles. Key words: Internet; computer-assisted instruction; English teacher; role 1. Introduction The English teacher p
3、lays an important role in traditional language teaching, but since computers were adopted in teaching, the teachers role has changed constantly, and it is necessary to define the teachers role again because the computer-assisted English language instruction may have many kinds of different modes, wh
4、ich may redefine the teachers relationship with the computer, teaching materials and students. In the new modes, he can be onlooker, consulter, the leader, or the participant, and he can also be a user, compiler and evaluator. After the Internet becomes computer-assisted instruction center day by da
5、y, if an English teacher wants to be competent in teaching, he must possess certain information technology and internet knowledge so as to bring in constant change to the education, and find his new role in teaching.2. Different ways of saying “the role of the teacher and the learner” The teacher an
6、d the students are the two principal components of the classroom. What roles do they have? Widdowson (1987:84) suggests two kinds of role are enacted in the classroom in terms of occupation and activity. That is, on the one hand, the teacher has a superior and dominant position over the student. The
7、 teacher plans the lesson, and manages the class. Students are under the guidance of teachers. They need to behave properly so that the environment of learning can be guaranteed and learning can be carried on effectively. On the other hand, the teacher, as the teaching person, helps the students, as
8、 the learner to learn in the activities, aiming at achieving explicit learning objectives. In the learning activities the students who are the principal part have to take responsibilities for their own learning. To further discuss the role of the teacher and students is not an easy task.1) Tradition
9、al role of the teacher in ELTTraditionally, the evaluation of the teacher has depended on the amount of knowledge he or she crammed into the students head: the more, the better. Therefore, the image of a successful teacher has been of one who let loose a flood of eloquence while standing on the plat
10、form of the classroom. The teacher is the unquestionable authority, who dominates the class from the beginning to the end, while the students are just “ignorant audience” who write down the precious words and sometimes offer their applause and laughter caused by the admiration. A considerable amount
11、 of time is spent on the explanation and analysis of grammar, sentences, phrases and words and their usages with comparatively little time on exercise and practice, and almost no time on communication. Its obvious that the teaching is focused on linguistic competence rather than communicative compet
12、ence. Therefore，there is little cooperation between the teacher and the students, and the teacher gets little feedback from his or her “audience”.Its apparent that the teachers role in the classroom is decided by the goals that the teacher intends to achieve. The goal of traditional ELT has been to
13、help students read and appreciate selected written passages, and the most effective way to realize the goals has been to explain to the students the necessary vocabulary items and grammatical structures. When translation of the reading passages is finished, the teaching goal has been accomplished. I
14、n this teacher-centered class, the teacher is a controller who instructs and guides his or her students to understand the passages sentence by sentence, taking scant notice of the feeling and reactions of students. Students have no opportunity to apply what they have learnt to practical communicatio
15、n. Thus, the result is the teachers heavy domination over the whole class and students passive reception. 2) The modern role of the teacher in ELTIn the 21st century, the Internet will play a more and more important role in English teaching. A teacher is one who is able to impart information or is a
16、 guide to the information. The teacher must know where the student is in his understanding and abilities. The teacher must understand the gap between the student and the information. A good teacher will know how to help the student to bridge that gap in the most effective way by blending appropriate
17、 methodologies and tools. If the teacher does not take into account the particular characteristics of his students, he/she may wind up going through the empty motions of “teaching” but not affecting a learning gained by the students.Students need to get used to working in online teams. Teachers must
18、 get used to fulfilling the role of moderator in which they have to cultivate both personal and group participation. And assessment techniques need to move away from testing to projects, assignments, and case studies.The role differences between a dominant teacher and a directive teacher can be seen
19、 through the techniques they employ, as far as the teaching techniques are concerned. The following explanation is given just for some demonstration of directive teaching.Computers are becoming as ubiquitous as blackboards in many classrooms, challenging teachers to find ways to incorporate technolo
20、gy in support of curricular and pedagogical goals. On the one hand, the urge is strong to script the lesson, set the bookmarks, and guide the student. Yet one of the greatest benefits of using computers, and particularly the Internet, is that they offer the freedom to explore. Teachers must be willi
21、ng to allow students to exercise that freedom, to struggle, to be risk takers while keeping students strength and weaknesses in mind and becoming learners along with them. It is only when teachers are willing to learn both with and from students that technology has the potential to inform the delica
22、te balance of instructional decision making. At this time, a teacher is not only a guide, but also a learner. In an Internet-based lesson, rather than a single omniscient source of knowledge himself, a teacher is a facilitator helping students build their own learning strategies. 3) The relationship
23、 between teachers and studentsThere are many controversies when it comes to the relationship between teachers and students. However, one idea remains the teachers primary job is to educate while the students primary job is to learn. The techniques are what differ among teachers and in turn that shap
24、es the relationship between the two parties. Is this relationship between teachers and students that important to discuss and analyze? Does a students education depend on the techniques of the teacher? Alternatively, do students have a responsibility to their own education? The relationship between
25、the teacher and the student is both important and detrimental to a students education.So how should a teacher teach? Moreover, what kind of teaching offers good relations between teachers and students? The answers are impossible to standardize. There may never be one set solution. However, by acknow
26、ledging each side of the relationship, a clearer perspective and job duty can appear. The teachers primary goal is to broaden and bring about the awareness of individual students. The only way to accomplish that objective is to find a balance between obtaining the power and allowing freedom in the c
27、lassroom. 3. English teachers new roles Nowadays, the Internet is gaining immense popularity in foreign language teaching and more and more educators and learners are embracing it. The teachers role becomes even more important within the new illiteracies (?). Internet resources will increase, not de
28、crease, so the central role teachers play lies in orchestrating learning experiences for students. Teachers will be challenged to thoughtfully guide students learning within information environments that are richer and more complex than traditional print media, presenting richer and more complex learning opportunities for them and their students. After there is a computer and multimedia teaching material in the English teaching, the traditional teacher-centered classes will be transferred to student-centered class.
