USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Information and communication technology (ICT) is firmly entrenched within our everyday life and that applies also to foreign language teaching. Personal computing devices and the internet have become powerful prerequisites in the educational process. On the one hand, ICT in foreign language teaching intensifies the learning process. A lesson with interactive activities and live presentations, in which the students can participate, is not only more attractive but also more effective. ICT allows a student's language capability to be developed more fully at any level. Using computer-based technology, the student can control the learning process, and choose a suitable personal tempo. The student can independently obtain information and practice skills on line such as pronunciation, and immerse him/herself in the language environment and culture of the relevant country. On the other hand, ICT in foreign language teaching has disadvantages. According to a questionnaire among Ukrainian students, if they are not motivated to study when learning on-line, students can be distracted by other activities such as games, music, etc. The more students use ICT, the more anti social they become, being limited With the communication With peers. Moreover, constant use of ICT can restrict emotions, feelings and competitiveness. Human interaction remains important and the teacher still plays a pivotal role. The student can learn individually but still needs real-time explanation and communication. Thus, the use of ICT in teaching foreign languages can be most effective when combined with traditional and modern human-based methods.