The barriers of technology integration in Hong Kong primary school English education: Preliminary findings and recommendations for future practices

The use of technology has become increasingly popular in various education contexts. However, integrating technology into teaching and learning is not without problems. This study aims to understand the barriers of technology integration in Hong Kong primary school English education. Thirty-six in-service teachers of an e-learning training course participated in this study. Through a free-response survey, they reported the barriers of using technology in their day-to-day English teaching. The findings indicated that a lack of resources (e.g., technology resources and preparation time) and inadequate knowledge and skills of e-learning practices were the two most frequently reported barriers of technology integration in local schools. Based on the responses of the teacher participants, five recommendations were made to inform future practices of e-learning. These recommendations included using some low-cost technology tools, having a technology integration plan in school, ensuring students’ access to technology, improving students’ skills and attitudes of e-learning, and providing opportunities of professional development. Copyright © 2018 International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics. All rights reserved.