My presentation is entitled “Using Smart Boards in EFL Classrooms: Benefits and Limitations”. It is divided into seven sections which are (1) Introduction (2) ICT Tools (3) Rationale for this presentation (4) Defining « smart boards » (5) Introducing the Present Study i.e., its Aim, its Setting, its Participants, its Research Hypotheses, its Instrument, and The Results obtained. Then, a Summary of Results and Discussion was presented. What follows are the Limitations and Implications. A final takeaway message was the concluding point. With the prevalence of technology in every domain of human life, the advent of ICT tools in EFL classrooms becomes a requisite. Therefore, the old debate whether ICT should be used in EFL classrooms or not is no longer relevant. It is illogical to teach the IPad and smartphone generation with outdated methods.

2. PLAN
1. Introduction
2. ICT Tools
3. Rationale
4. Smart Boards
5. The Present Study
a. Aim
b. Setting
c. Participants
d. Research Hypotheses
e. Instrument
f. Results
g. Summary of Results
h. Discussion
6. Limitations and Implications
7. Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
 The advent of ICT tools in EFL classrooms
becomes a requisite.

4. ICT TOOLS
ICT
Smart boards
PPT Presentations
Videos/
Podcasts
Internet
(websites, online
flashcards,
Social networks,
wikis, blogs,
webinars, etc.)
Softwares
Mobile devices

5. RATIONALE
 Varying teaching methods makes foreign language
learning interesting and motivational, which leads to
successful foreign language learning.
 Variation is characteristic of smart boards.

6. SMART BOARDS
“The [smart board] is a touch-sensitive electronic
presentation device. Fully-functioning interactive
whiteboards usually comprise four components: a
computer, a projector, appropriate software and the
display panel, which is a large free-standing or wall
mounted screen up to 2 metres by 1 metre in size.”
(Schmid, 2006)
The words « smart boards » and « interactive
white boards » are interchangeably used in the
literature.

7. THE PRESENT STUDY(1)
 Aim
The study aims at assessing the usefulness of smart boards in
EFL classrooms. In other words, it probes the effect of this
device on both the learning and the teaching processes.
 Setting
The private language learning center, ABC
Compétences, Béja, Tunisia.
 Participants
1. Two EFL teachers (my colleagues).
2. 15 learners ( 6 young learners + 9 adult learners).

8. THE PRESENT STUDY (2)
 Research Hypotheses
1. The use of smart boards in EFL classrooms
motivates and creates interest in the students
leading them to develop successful foreign
language learning.
2. The use of smart boards in EFL classrooms
increases participation during classes.
3. Smart boards make it easier for EFL teachers
to teach.

9. THE PRESENT STUDY(3)
 Instrument
1. Semi-structured interview
2. Interview questions
 Do you think that smart boards increase motivation?
How?
 Do you think that that smart boards rise interest?
How?
 Do you think that smart bords facilitate and improve
EFL learning? How?
 Do yoy think that smart boards suit learning styles?
 Do you think that smart boards facilitate EFL
teaching? What do they add to EFL teaching?

10. •RESULTS (1)
Effects of
smart
bords on
the
learning
process
Teachers
Smart boards motivate and promote understanding among students.
‘Using large images projected onto the SMART board; for example,
captures students’ interest and therefore helps them to grasp the
meaning of vocabulary presented.’
Students pay more attention and participate more when the lessons
are conducted using SMART boards.
Children “who are usually preoccupied with other things in class”
concentrate more when the lessons are conducted using SMART
boards.
Students’ fear of making errors is reduced.
Smart boards work well for audio- visual and kinesthetic learners.
However, teachers think that they are not of great help for learners
with other learning styles.
Smart boards might help to a some extent in increasing language
learning achievement.

11. •RESULTS (2)
Effects of
smart
bords on
the
teaching
process
Teachers
Smart boards offer some great tools to teach pronunciation and
oral skills. “There is the opportunity to listen to texts instead
of/while reading”.
Material are easily accessible and clearly projected.
Learning becomes more active.
Viewing websites, videos and presentations as a group is
facilitated thanks to smart boards.

12. •RESULTS (3)
Effects of
smart bords
on the FL
learning
process
Learners
Adult learners Young learners
«I love touching the board and I adore it when the board applaudes
me; however, I do not like my handwriting on the board.»
« I like the drag and drop, writing with the magic ink, and erase it
without dirtying my hand. »
«Thanks to songs, videos and interactive activities, I enjoy the
English lessons and I am no longer frustrated in the class.»
« My pronunciation and my level; generally, have improved.»
« I understand better when the teacher uses the smart board.»
Effects of
smart boards
on the FL
teaching
process
Smart boards offer the teacher a
variety of ressources and options,
which facilitates teaching (This
answer varies according to the
teacher of the learners).
Smart boards do not facilitate
teaching.

13. •SUMMARY OF RESULTS (4)
Efect of Smart
Baords on
Teachers Leraners
Motivation + +
Interest + +
Participation + +
FL Learning
Achievement
+/- +
Facilitating teaching +/- +/-

14. DISCUSSION
REFLECTING ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE
 The smart boards is the best tool to guarantee variation in
language teaching.
http://www.engames.eu/kitchen-tools-equipment/
 The smart board can raise students’ autonomy.
 Notes can be recorded for future review.
 Smart boards free teachers and facilitate interaction between
students and teachers.
 Teachers can easily use many resources at the same time.
 The smart board attract learners with different learning styles.
 The smart board offers solutions to the problems related to
handwriting.
 However, some technical problems can spoil the whole lesson
and cause frustration for both teachers and learners.
 Smart boards should be used with small groups.

17. LIMITATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
 The teacher as a researcher: Two teachers and 15
students are by no means a representative sample
for the whole country; and therefore, the results in
this presentation have to be regarded as a case
study that can be replicated.
 The results show that it is vital that EFL teachers
embark on a training before using the smart board.

18. CONCLUSION
1. The present results prove that smart boards make
EFL learning more enjoyable and interesting,
increase student engagement, and facilitate
teaching and make it more creative.
2. Before using smart boards, EFL teachers need
training to be knowledgeable about the full range
of services that such device can provide.
3. Indeed, the smart board is a device that can
combine all the ICT tools altogether.

19. SMART BOARDS AND ACHIEVEMENT IN EFL
LEARNING
Achievement
Smart
boards
Motivation
Interest
Participation