Enhancing Digital Humanism in English Language Teaching through Digital Humanities

Abstract

Globally, English Language Teaching and Learning and the communication practices have been undergoing tremendous changes in the 21st-century of the Third Millennium. Digital Age has established itself with a rich source of information through different Applications of social media upto Chat GPT and other Artificial Intelligence tools in the recent times. It reduces strain in teaching and learning and gives emphasis to knowledge-based strategies. Radio, newspapers and television were the main sources of information before the arrival of the internet. Technology has revolutionized information access across all sectors, largely replacing humans in global learning, making it quick and cost-effective. The move from physical to mental labour has also become widespread, as the transformation of man from traditional practices to technological advancements. Today the success of English as a Global Language and the learning of it relies on surplus information and human resources, with data storage at its peak. Microphotography, microform, wireless networking,internet, information sharing, mobile phones, pocket laptops, and digital cameras evolved.
Digital Humanities has opened avenues for intellectual activity using Digital Technology to give a new dimension to the various disciplines in Humanities. Digital resources in Humanities give a face-lift in teaching and learning. When there is no urban/rural divide among the teaching community across the globe, all the teachers of English are expected to have a better knowledge in the use of the latest tools to teach English as a language to any kind of learners effectively with the same humanistic approach practised in conventional teaching. Knowledge of Digital humanities is essential to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
This paper aims at contextualising English as a global language by teaching its literature through Digital format by converting the print form of literature into eBooks, Digital Archives, Electronic Literature, and Language Games along with Digital Humanism,which is yet another face of Digital Humanities. According to Hannes Werthner, Co-founder, Digital Humanism Initiative, “Digital humanism is a broader approach to designing a digital future with respect to human needs.”