How many language teachers rely exclusively on a textbook to supply exercises and other materials to their students? Few good ones, I would venture to say. As a group, language teachers tend to be a very dedicated and resourceful bunch. How many teachers on trips abroad have not made a point of scooping up as many extra train timetables or movie schedules as they can so they can use them in class? We all use every which way we can find to get our students to learn. The Web is a powerful medium for doing just that -- particularly if you can build in interactivity.

What does it take to do a handout? You need to think up what you're going to do, write it down, enter it into a word processor, print it up, duplicate it and distribute it. A lot of work (and dead trees). Well, a lot of those handouts can be recycled in electronic form and can easily be updated. It's work, too, but we're used to that, right? The first few times you work in a new medium are of course going to be time consuming; what isn't when you're just getting started. But once you're familiar with how it works, it should take less time than conventional handouts. When you're transforming your handouts, you might think a little bit about the new medium you're using and the aded power it provides -- you might find you can do some new and surprising things. We shouldn't let technology drive pedagogy, but we also should be alert to new possibilites that the digital world opens up.

"There's still no way I can find the time to learn to use this stuff!" It's true that (as in language learning) trial and error is the best way to learn to manipulate Web forms. That takes time and energy and patience. But don't forget about a valuable built-in resource that all teachers have available at their fingertips -- your students. Students love this stuff and catch on fast (they at least aren't afraid to experiment). Don't hesitate to ask students to help you out -- they like to be on the other side of the desk for a change.