Do students of Spanish as a foreign language prefer a traditional classroom or a classroom with ICT? : A study on attitudes towards the use of ICT in the classroom of Spanish as a foreign language

The aim of this study was to understand students’ attitudes towards the use of ICT and how it is being used in Spanish as a foreign language. We also wanted to know what kind of ICT activities are being used and what the students’ thoughts are about those. Are the activities with ICT helping the students develop their communicating skills? One of the questions in this study was also whether the students prefer the usage of ICT in the classroom over a traditional classroom (without ICT). The study was conducted through surveys at a secondary school in southern Sweden. The results demonstrated that the students are positive towards the use of ICT even though it is not often used in during their Spanish lessons. Our study also demonstrated that the most used ICT activity to promote communication is emailing, as well as direct messages, usually towards the teacher. Videoconferences or collaborations with students at other schools or individuals across the Internet almost never occurs and the last thing that this study demonstrated is that even though the students are very positive towards the usage of ICT, there are negative sides to it. The technology could be distracting and could also create physical problems such as headaches. Our conclusion is that the students need variety when it comes to using ICT when learning Spanish as a foreign language, because according to the students themselves this is how they get the most out of their education.