Providing every student with an iPad as a means of helping develop Korean EFL Digital Literacy
The predominant uses of English by non-native speakers will increasingly be online, in using English language digital resources, and in computer-mediated communication with other non-native speakers of English. That these uses are computer-mediated has profound implications for Korean learners of English. For Korea to be competitive in the global economy, Korean EFL should encourage L2 Digital Literacy in English. Korea already enjoys an enviable status as the most wired nation on the planet, with the fastest Internet connections in the world. But computer facilities in Korean educational institutions need drastic reorganization. The opportunities for computer-mediated second language learning need to be vastly increased, particularly for native teacher English classes. Multimedia-capable, mobile web solutions need to be provided that put the Internet into the hands of all students and teachers. Wi-Fi networked campuses already allow any campus space to act as a wireless classroom. A teacher's computer console with high-speed Internet access and OHP is required in every classroom. All students should be provided with adequate computing facilities, that are available anywhere, anytime. This is now feasible through adopting the strategy of providing every student, on enrollment, with a Wi-Fi+3G enabled Apple iPad.