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

Abstract

This study is aimed to investigate and analyze the EFL teacher’s Perceptions regarding Information and Communication Technology, the barriers to the use of ICT in their classrooms, the factors that influence teachers the most to use ICT , and the perception by teachers of the use of ICT about their gender. This research was done in the city of Cayambe, being the sample for the investigation 20 teachers from public and private high school, ten male and ten female. The instruments for data collection were teachers’ surveys as well as teachers’ interviews. This research mainly relied on a qualitative approach. Furthermore, the answers were analyzed and the results from the current study, which indicate an indirect correlation between ICT use and an EFL teacher’s age, gender, and length of teaching experience The study has also established that the use of ICT is less prevalent among teachers in older age because they are less familiar with ICT tools. Thus anxiety becomes a barrier for them. The findings from the study also revealed that a gap still exists between ICT use and the general ICT curriculum which does not clearly guide teachers to integrate ICT effectively into the learning process.