Multiliteracies in ELA Classrooms

I have just spent the past two years teaching English as a foreign language in a satellite city just outside of Seoul, South Korea. Thus far, it has been one of the most educational, eye opening, and fulfilling experiences in many aspects of my adult life. In particular, my teaching experience in Korea has especially allowed me to build my confidence in the classroom, and taught me the importance of being culturally sensitive, and self-aware as a teacher. Moreover, I have come to love and appreciate many things about South Korea largely through my experiences with the students I taught. I have learned many invaluable life lessons and I treasure and made significant memories by being immersed in the country and its culture. I will always view South Korea as the place that first enriched my growth as an educator as well as a person.

However, this image represents and embodies my deepest fears about technology and education. Sil-bot is a recent product that was developed by the Korean Institute of Science and Technology. The robot is designed to teach English to Korean children in rural areas of the country. When I first heard about Sil-bot, a flood of questions plagued my mind about my future as an educator and the impact of advancing technology will have on my life and the world. My first instincts towards technology are generally fear and hesitancy and they eventually lead to disinterest. Being born in the mid-80s, and being a part of the older spectrum of the Millennial generation, I have many reservations about new technologies and I am not quick to embrace them. However, I gather that a lot of my fears and disinterests in technology are rooted in ignorance. Therefore, I hope that this course will provide an assuring and encouraging space for me to explore and become familiar with the multiliteracies that are evolving and will continue to evolve our classrooms and our world.