Balancing Technology Innovation and Human Interaction: Digital Pedagogy in TESOL

Abstract

Digital technologies have reshaped Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by expanding access, enabling personalized learning, and offering multimodal resources. Yet an overreliance on technology risks weakening the interpersonal and communicative core of language learning. This article examines the tensions and complementarities between technology-driven innovation and human-centered interaction in TESOL. It synthesizes current literature on digital pedagogy, discusses pedagogical frameworks that integrate technology without displacing relational teaching, considers practical strategies for teacher development and classroom design, and offers recommendations for research and policy.