Using World Wide Web Effectively In TEFL

The advent of the Age of Information brings about bright prospects to TEFL. With its abundant resources and powerfiul functions, World Wide Web (WWW), shows impassable advantages in promoting the development of TEFL. By reviewing the overall situation of TEFL in China and analyzing the features of WWW, the thesis points out the necessity and feasibility of integrating WWW resources to TEFL. While studying three main theoretical movements occurred in the recent history of language teaching, the author adopts the Social-Cognitive theory as guided principle in using WWW in TEFL. So far, various Web-based class activities have been experienced at home or abroad, which generally implement four themes of using WWW in language teaching: communicating, referencing, tutoring and authoring. Consulting many Web-based teaching cases abroad and at home, the author suggests that, to use WWW effectively in TEFL, teachers should consider the following factors: course typology, course objectives, syllabus design, class preparation, class management, learning-task setting, and performance evaluation.