Using ICT gives the learners real-life contact with, and exposure to, the cultures of the peoples and countries where
the new language is spoken and enables children to access and research information worldwide. The opportunity for
children to develop an interest in the culture of other nations through comparison with their own is an integral part
of primary languages entitlement. Using ICT, particularly email, blogs and video conferencing, facilitates children’s
interaction and communication with native speakers and other communities by enabling them to use language for
real purposes and in real contexts. ICT both supports and integrates literacy skills. It enhances interactive teaching
and learning styles and provides many opportunities for creativity. When used imaginatively it can stimulate
curiosity about how languages work, raise the level of cognitive challenge, and extend children’s ability to be
independent in their use of the new language.ICT offers a powerful way of enabling children to be fully engaged in
their own language learning process. Tasks done at home, at school or on a trip abroad can be uploaded to a
learning platform, enabling teachers, parents and children to make comments and celebrate achievement. There is an
increasing range of effective software to support primary languages teaching and learning. Chosen carefully and
used creatively, it enables teachers and children to engage with tasks in ways that are not possible with printed
materials.ICT has the potential to support non-specialist teachers, through access to native speaker models of the
new language which can be used to support acquisition of linguistic skills, or to extend the range of voices in the
classroom. Through the use of a learning platform, ICT can supplement training programmes to help ensure that
support is maintained over the coming years as increasing numbers of teachers are trained to teach a new language
at primary level. Interactive whiteboards, DVDs and the use of digital projectors can provide stimulating visual aids
as a valuable strategy to support understanding and recall in the new language. ICT has the potential to increase the
percentage of learning that involves the traditionally more difficult literacy skills by maximising exposure to the
written word.