Will you consider including synchronous tools in your future EFL classroom in Saudi Arabia? Will there be any drawbacks?

First of all, we need to know what are synchronous tools? Synchronous tools enable people to communicate and collaborate at the same time wherever they are. Those tools include Instant Messengers like Google, yahoo, msn Skype etc. collaborative tools like etherpad, mind mapping etc. and virtual classrooms like eliminate, adobe connect etc.

For me, I would love to use these tools in my future EFL classroom, as the students these days are digital natives they have a good understanding to how synchronous tools can be used. They are using them everyday and involving these tools in their education would be very useful and enjoyable for them.

However, I think I would face many obstacles when using these tools in Saudi Arabia. In public schools specifically there will be students from different classes, these tools would be too expensive for lower-class students. They may also have no idea how to use them. Another important drawback is the speed of Internet connection. These tools normally required high speed of the Internet connection.

I hop in the future these obstacles will be over came. And I will try my best to use those tools because I strongly believe in using technology in classrooms rather than the traditional way of teaching.