Abstract: Multimedia foreign language teaching is a modern education technology which comprehensively uses slide show, projection, sound recording, video recording, DVD, language lab and computer. In recent years, with the popularity of the computer application and the development of multimedia technology, it has become an irresistible trend to apply multimedia teaching to English calssess. Multimedia technology has both advantages and disadvantages. This paper shows the characteristics and current situation of multimedia teaching and illustrates the applications of it. These deepen our understanding to the multimedia technology in order to do the better use of multimedia technology, which may bring more convenience to foreign language teaching and learning.

Key words: multimedia; advantages and disadvantages; applications; improvement 

摘要：多媒体外语教学是综合运用幻灯、投影、录音、录像、影碟、语言实验室、计算机等多种媒体进行外语教学的现代教育技术。近年来，随着计算机应用的不断推广和多媒体技术的飞速发展，运用多媒体进行中学外语教学已 经成为一种势不可挡的趋势。多媒体技术有利有弊。本文旨在分析多媒体教学的特点和现状，并一分为二地从优点和缺点两方面说明其在中学外语课堂的应用。从而加深我们对多媒体技术的了解，以便更好的使用多媒体技术，为外语教学和学习带来更多便利。

关键词：多媒体外语教学;利与弊;应用;改进

　　Under the background of world multi-polarization,economic globalization and international education, education and technology are being widely used in English teaching. Along with the development of modern education technology, multimedia teaching has effectively improved the quality of classroom teaching because of its vivid, intuitive, novel, large capacity and high efficiency. Furthermore, it is well received by the teachers and students of all ages. However, multimedia English teaching still has some problems. Therefore, how to optimize multimedia technology, improve teaching efficiency and promote the healthy development of English teaching is an issue that deserves research.