PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS‘ TRAINING IN INFORMATION COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ESL CLASSROOMS IN MALAYSIA

Today there is sufficient evidence that Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT henceforth) has a significant influence on the teaching and learning process that
takes places in the classroom. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the ESL preservice
teachers‘ attitudes, competency and preparation in integrating ICT in their
teaching and learning activities. The study employed a quantitative survey method
and involved a total of 70 pre-service Teaching English as Second Language (TESL)
teachers in the Faculty of Education from a public university in Malaysia. These preservice
teachers, who had undergone 12 weeks of practicum teaching in secondary
schools, were given a set of questionnaire and the data gathered from the
questionnaires were statistically analyzed.
The results indicated that the pre-service teachers do possess positive attitudes,
moderate level of competency and are adequately prepared in integrating ICT in the
classroom. The study also highlighted that the lack of facilities and technical
malfunction in schools as the biggest obstacle for the pre-service teachers in their
efforts to integrate ICT in the classroom. These result suggested that teachers must be
well prepared for ICT use in the classroom. Therefore continuous training and ICT
courses should be seen as solution in assisting teachers strengthen their ICT skills and
in encouraging them to keep up to date with newer technologies.