Microsoft PowerPoint is user friendly software which allows the integration of visuals and sounds. Schcolnik and Kol (1999) confirm that PowerPoint is a tool that allows learners to experience a world of real language opportunity. The use of this presentation software in a friendly, non-threatening classroom atmosphere encourages the integration of all four skills. Fisher (2003) explains that PowerPoint “can be used for initial teaching, for practice and drilling, for games, for reviews, and for tests.” However, Towndrow and Vallance (2004: 109) argue for the necessity of organizing PowerPoint presentations based on a proper lesson outline that specifies clear and achievable language learning objectives. The show should support the design of language learning tasks which are not context-free and stand-alone exercises.
Catherina (2006) indicates that learners think PowerPoint based lectures are more interesting than traditional lectures (p. 4). According to Gaskins (1984) PowerPoint presentations improves effectiveness of presentation and improves clarity of complex material. Roblyer (2003) indicates that highly effective use of PowerPoint presentation helps learners to attend to and retain much of what they see on these slideshows (p. 179). Moreover, Fisher (1998) reports that student scores on tests are even improved with PowerPoint in classroom instruction as opposed to traditional chalk-walk and talk lectures.