scholarly journals Exploring Students’ Readiness on English Language Blended Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Fazlinda Hamzah ◽  
Soo Yew Phong ◽  
Mohd Azlan Shah Sharifudin ◽  
Zainab Mohd Zain ◽  
Mahdalela Rahim

Blended learning approach has gained popularity around the globe and blended English language teaching has become a matter of considerable interest. Many higher education institutions have adopted the approach, and this raised a question of readiness among the students involved. The study aimed at investigating the students’ readiness on English language blended learning. A total of 137 students of different courses from a public university in Melaka participated in the study. They were asked to answer a questionnaire which involved five aspects to measure the students’ readiness on English language blended learning such as technical abilities, technological accessibility, self-directed learning, attitude towards traditional classroom setting and attitude towards blended classroom setting. Six students were then selected to be involved in semi-structured interviews to identify students’ views on English language blended learning. The study found out that students have low levels of readiness on English language blended learning in which they scored 3.28 to 3.54 in attitude towards blended classroom settings compared to their scores in attitude towards traditional classroom settings which are all above 4.00. The interviews revealed the reasons behind the results obtained from the questionnaire and one of them is that they enjoy learning English in a traditional classroom since face to face communication with their instructors allows them to remember better as well as enables them to gain more in-depth understanding of a lesson.   Keywords: Blended learning, English language, Students’ readiness

2021 ◽  
pp. 204275302110482
Author(s):  
Thi Nguyet Le ◽  
Bill Allen ◽  
Nicola F Johnson

Although blended learning (BL) has emerged as one of the most dominant delivery modes in higher education in the 21st century, there are notable barriers and drawbacks in using BL for English language teaching and learning in Vietnamese universities. This study reports on research into the use of BL, conducted through semi-structured interviews with 30 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) lecturers from 10 different universities across the two major cities of Vietnam. The findings revealed that EFL lecturers identified eight groups of barriers and four groups of drawbacks to the successful implementation of BL. The most significant barriers included: lack of infrastructure and technology, institutional policies and support; lack of knowledge, experience and investment in using BL; lack of technological competence and information technology (IT) skills and lack of teaching time to employ web-based technologies and online resources in classrooms. Meanwhile, the most crucial drawbacks were: lecturers’ workload, ineffective use of BL, time consumption and demotivation. The authors point to the underlying factors contributing to these barriers and drawbacks and make implications for how some of these can be effectively addressed through constructive changes to policy and practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 796
Author(s):  
Asti Gumartifa ◽  
Finza Larasati ◽  
Syafira Aurelia

The technology of information and communication (ICT) has evolved in the sector of education. Many elements have dramatically changed exponentially over the past three decades. It can modify and simplify the development of learning activities. Thus, Google Classroom will provide a blended learning platform in the education aspect. Google Classroom provides various things simpler for teachers to conduct learning practices effectively and efficiently, not the expected learning just in class, but even outside the classroom. It is revolutionizing schooling, thus the combination of mixed-method learning is also needed by each school. The advent of blended is among the most significant outcomes of the revolution. Learning which incorporates the essence of face-to-face and ICT use is needed in the era of 4.0. This article discusses existing theories, and empirical evidence relating to the essence of blended learning and Google Classroom in ELT. This research is used to create teachers’ broad mind widely to the use of Google Classroom as the blended course in English Language Teaching.


Author(s):  
Rajesh Lankapalli ◽  
Y.V.G. Nukeswara Rao

This article describes how over the years, education systems, academics, and students have undergone many modifications with the appearance of the latest technologies. This variation is clear particularly in implementation within the pedagogic structures of the education system. On par with different subject areas especially in English language teaching is additionally taking advantage of the blended mode of learning. Blended learning is for people who would like to advance their skills through face-to-face learning, while supporting their learning with online and remote learning activities.


Author(s):  
Sejdi Sejdiu

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning vis-à-vis face-to-face instruction. In order to achieve this aim, three research questions including were raised. The study was conducted using the case study approach which was supported by the collection of qualitative and quantitative data. The study involved two teachers, one who taught the experimental group using blended learning, and another one who taught the control group using face-to-face instruction. The results showed that the blended learning instructor executed instruction better and used more effective methods of assessment than the face-to-face instruction teacher. This is supported by differences in students’ performances which show that the experimental group performed better by scoring higher means and recording lower variances.


Author(s):  
Hanaa Alzalouk ◽  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactional conversations between the native speakers (NSs) of English and the non-native speakers (NNSs) of English in a culturally mixed classroom. ESL learners need to be exposed to the second language through authentic and face to face interaction when they have opportunities to interact with NSs outside of the classroom (in real-life situations) and inside the classroom (through group work and pair work activities). Data were collected through conducting an ethnographic research in which classroom observation and semi-structured interviews were the primary data collection tools. Participants were eight MA students in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT) in Nottingham Trent University.


Author(s):  
Andi Bulkis Maghfirah Mannong

The emergence of the Covid-19 has given a significant effect that inflicted policy changes in various sectors, including in the education field. The most basic policy is changing the students’ way to learn from what is usually done in the classroom (face to face) to online learning. As this condition, the implementation of learning-based applications has a necessary role in supporting online learning, includes English Language Teaching (ELT). This study aimed to analyze the students’ experience in utilizing learning-based applications in learning English and the barriers faced by them. As for some of the applications most commonly used are Zoom, Google Meet, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp. Besides, this study was also conducted to determine which application is the most effective used in ELT during online learning. This research used descriptive quantitative, where the sample was the seventh-semester students in the English department at one of the private universities in Makassar. The data was collected used questionnaire and the data analysis technique used descriptive statistics. The result of this study showed that the use of those four applications helped the students to adapt to the pandemic condition. Besides helping students to learn English virtually, it also improves the students’ digital literacy. Although, there were some obstacles in utilizing some applications faced by them, such as limited quota, unstable network, complicated in use, and not focus during the learning process. Among the four applications above, the most effective application based on the students’ response was Whatsapp. This application helps the students to develop their language proficiency through natural interaction. Moreover, it makes the students easier in learning English as the delivery of material is systematic and structured. Students also have more time to understand the material by rereading the material that has been delivered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 01003
Author(s):  
Ho Thi Thao Nguyen ◽  
Subarna Sivapalan ◽  
Pham Hung Hiep ◽  
Pham Thi Van Anh ◽  
Nguyen Thi Mai Lan

Although blended learning (BL) has been utilized in English language teaching globally for the past few decades, it is a new phenomenon in the Vietnamese context. Little research has been done to simultaneously investigate how students and lecturers perceive blended learning implementation for English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching and learning in Vietnam, particularly within the higher education context. This study thus aims to investigate lecturers’ and students’ perspectives on BL implementation in an English Fundamentals course at a polytechnic in Hanoi, Vietnam. Data was collected via an online survey of 1500 non-English majors in the Fall 2019 semester and via interviews with 5 full-time EFL lecturers. The findings revealed that lecturers and students had positive perceptions of BL. For lecturers, the implementation of BL impacted their teaching approach and shifted the teaching of grammar and vocabulary from face-to-face to self-studying grammar and vocabulary using online lessons, devoting more in-class time to practicing speaking. Students meanwhile revealed that BL helped them develop self-autonomy of learning.


Author(s):  
Yonca Ozkan

<span>Few question the benefits technology provides for learners, teachers and administrators. Yet, few touch on what undesirable effects it may have on individuals' educational and social wellbeing. Based on this premise, this study aims to provide a fair picture of a group of English Language Teaching (ELT) students reflecting on their experience drawn from a blogging facility used as a platform for sharing and commenting on peer performance in classroom setting. The participants consisted of prospective teachers of English who were being educated at the ELT Department of University of Çukurova, and received a two-term (eight months) course of </span><em>Teaching Language Skills</em><span> in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 academic years. Following each course session, participants were invited to make comments on a blogging platform; at the end of each term, all expressed individual perceptions on this experience, both on the blog and in face to face interviews, some coming up with positive and some with negative views. The study may have significant implications for courses aiming to make use of this facility as part of the syllabus.</span>


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Adinda ◽  
Najoua Mohib

Thanks to the combination of face‑to‑face and online learning which involve the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), blended learning has become a popular approach to support learning in higher education. The main purpose of this study is to identify the teaching and instructional design approaches adopted by lecturers within blended learning environments, and to analyse their effects on students’ self‑directed learning. The sample involves 18 lecturers and their undergraduate students (n= 294) undertaking a blended course in one French university. This research utilised a mixed method approach for data collection, including questionnaires and observations. Firstly, lecturers were invited to declare their teaching approaches and the configuration of their blended learning environments by completing two online questionnaires. Secondly, both face‑to‑face and online observations were conducted with the lecturers to identify the specificity of their instructional design activities. A pre‑post questionnaire was also used to measure students’ self‑directed learning level. Data collection took place over a period of 6 months during the academic year 2017‑2018. The results show that lecturers who adopt student‑centred teaching approaches are not necessarily designing their blended learning courses as a student‑centred learning environment. Also, the results reveal that students' self‑directed learning is significantly developed only in three out of seven student‑centred blended learning courses. Additionally, the results show that lecturers of the students who improved their self‑directed level provided online peer review and online forum discussion activities. The findings indicate that further research is needed both to validate the direct relationship between these kinds of pedagogical activities and the self‑directed learning, and to determine how blended learning environments can better support collaboration and interaction.


Author(s):  
Lin Lin Chua ◽  
Adeline Yoke Yin Chia ◽  
Phelim Voon Chen Yong

It is a challenging task to produce science graduates who are successful academically as well as competent in various life-long skills that are needed for a successful career. To innovate the learning process and promote skill development, students should be encouraged to practise self-directed learning via online learning materials and e-learning tools, in addition to attending the conventional face-to-face lectures. In this chapter, the importance of a shift in the teaching and learning paradigm from teacher-centered to learner-centered learning is highlighted. The methods and approaches behind a successful implementation of blended learning for undergraduate science programs are discussed. Various e-learning tools and appropriate e-learning activities that can promote the development of self-directed and collaborative learning are also described in detail.


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