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

Abstract

Abstract: This study purpose is to evaluate perceptions of English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from private schools in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), specifically teachers’ characteristics considered as barriers when using ICT in EFL classroom, factors that influence teachers the most to use ICT, and perceptions of ICT use according to gender. The research was carried out in two private high schools from Loja city, the sample was composed by ten teachers, five males and five females. The study used a mixed methodology, with quantitative and qualitative approaches, the quantitative method described numerically the barriers and influences of ICT in EFL classes, meanwhile, qualitative method was used to describe personal perceptions about the use of ICT. The results obtained from this study reveal that the main barriers in the use of ICT in EFL classes are the preference of using previous teaching experiences instead of ICTs, lack of training courses and the age of the teachers, being female teachers those with more barriers and negative influences. Additionally, ICTs increases students’ confidence and motivates them to learn English.