MODERNIZING ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL IN MARDAN

Abstract

Technology has emerged as a major power in influencing the modern day education, especially in the teaching of English language. This paper discusses how technology can be incorporated into English language classrooms at the secondary school level in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the aim of improving vocabulary learning, listening comprehension, and student interest. The study is based on the Socio-cultural Theory of Vygotsky and follows the qualitative approach to investigate the mediation of learning by digital tools like multimedia projectors, language applications, and interactive materials in the form of social interaction and collaboration. Semi-structured interviews and classroom observations were used to gather data among English language teachers and students in the selected institutions. The results indicate that technology-based teaching encourages increased motivation in learners, enhances their language skills, and provides more interactive and student-focused teaching and learning. Nevertheless, it is hindered by the various challenges related to the lack of access to technological resources, unstable internet access, and inadequate teacher training. The paper identifies the necessity of better infrastructure, professional development, and digital material within the context as the key factors to help maximize the opportunities of technology in English language teaching. Generally, the study highlights how technology can be used in transformational ways to modernize the practice of pedagogy in resource-deprived educational contexts in Mardan.