Ecuadorian high school teachers’ perceptions on ICT use in their EFL classes

Abstract

The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the classroom represents a new challenge of adaptation for English Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. This study was conducted to know the teachers‟ perceptions on ICTs use within the classroom. Twenty teachers, male and female, participated in this research. They teach in different schools in the city of Quito. In addition, the methodology applied was qualitative and quantitative, in order to obtain a complete knowledge on the topic. The instruments applied in data collection were a general survey and an interview to six teachers. The results show that, in general, most of teachers have positive perceptions on ICT integration within the classroom. However, they also pointed to some of their own characteristics as barriers on ICTs use. These barriers are mainly related to age and lack of training. Another important result of this research was that teacher‟s gender does not affect the use of ICTs in a greater degree.