THRIVING IN A LOW-TECH ENVIRONMENT:A STUDY IN A REMOTE HIGH SCHOOL

Abstract

The realm of English language teaching has been recently colored with the rapid advance of technology. The sudden digitalization left by pandemic, the emergence and huge leverage of artificial intelligence (AI) are much exposed to teachers and students. It is not surprising that they get to rely on technology to experience better language learning. However, that fact triggers one big question concerning those who have little technology or limited internet access in their school environment. How do they survive in a low-tech environment when other modern schools have worked a lot with technology as one inseparable part in teaching and learning process of English? The researchers used questionnaires and interviews to look into this case and attentively depict how the teaching process is going on when there is only little technology to support English teaching and learning process in one junior high school of Aranio in Banjar regency, South Kalimantan. The results of this descriptive qualitative research showed that the English teacher used several fascinating ways to negotiate with little technology in their school such as leveraging printed materials, inserting classroom games, promoting student-centered classroom activities, and connecting students with daily lives to make learning more meaningful