INTEGRATING MULTIMEDIA IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO OMANI LEARNERS

Abstract

This paper reports on the study recently conducted to shed light on the extent of multimedia integration in teaching English as a Foreign Language at Shinas College of Technology (ShCT), Sultanate of Oman. Carried out during the first semester of the 2014-15 Academic Year, the study was primarily intended to aid administrators in crafting policies related to teaching English as a Foreign Language. Using a two-part questionnaire, the study elicited data from 60 language lecturers. The results of the study indicated that the majority of the lecturers frequently integrated multimedia in teaching English, particularly in introducing a topic, providing enhancement activities, unlocking technical vocabulary, and providing listening activities. Data also revealed the following: the lecturers’ key reasons for integrating multimedia, the factors that facilitate multimedia integration, and the challenges encountered by the lecturers in integrating multimedia in their English language classrooms. Finally, some pedagogical implications and recommendations for policy-making are shared based on the findings.