Online Language Learning

This chapter addresses two forces in contemporary societies. The first is that societies today are characterized by cultural and linguistic diversity and increasing human mobility. In this complex setting, language learning has acquired more significance, with the need to communicate worldwide. Secondly, our society is experiencing dramatic technological advancements, one of which pertains to online learning. In this era of ubiquitous learning, where the use of learning management systems, mobile applications, social networks, and other digital technologies can underpin learning, it is necessary to re-address language learning. This overview will categorize the types of online language learning tools and practices that are emerging and prevalent and it will analyze their instructional approaches in the use of the technology. Ιt will also focus on the digital learners that access them having as an ultimate goal to understand the characteristics and needs of the contemporary global, multilingual, and digital learners and how these can be addressed in the learning process.

To Zoom or not to Zoom: Japanese and Ukrainian students’ attitudes towards online language learning

This paper reports on research that aimed to provide initial insight into how university students in two different countries, Japan and Ukraine, coped with greater use of videoconferencing software and whether this resulted in any issues surrounding their online privacy. To facilitate learning under the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors and learners had to speedily adapt to a ‘new normal’ of intense videoconferencing online learning. However, did this rapid implementation of online learning negatively impact students’ privacy? The findings presented in this reflective paper suggest that despite initial concerns, students who participated in the research exhibited low-level concerns regarding the impact of videoconferencing software on their online privacy. Although, students’ privacy concerns did grow when presented with long-term or permanent use of online learning as an integral part of a language learning structure.

“I Teach the way I believe”: EFL Teachers’ Pedagogical Beliefs in Technology Integration and its Relationship to Students’ Motivation and Engagement in the COVID 19 Pandemic Year

This study aimed to investigate language teachers' pedagogical concepts and attitudes and the effect of these on students' motivation and engagement levels. Its results were based on a cross-sectional correlational research survey which was conducted online. The participants in the study were chosen at random from among 205 language teachers (n= 205) and 317 language students (n= 317) from various higher educational institutions in Asian countries. Results of the study of language teachers revealed that the respondents' pedagogical ideas and orientations were positive when it came to using technology-based teaching in their language classroom. Results of gender differences indicated that female language teachers showed a firmer belief in student-centered online language learning than their male counterparts. On the other hand, males are more likely than females to utilize technology in the language classroom, and their attitudes relating to it are more favorable than those of their female counterparts. The levels of language learning motivation and engagement among students were also investigated. The findings also showed a high level of language learning engagement among both male and female students. Furthermore, the test of relationship showed that the firmer the instructors' belief in the importance of student-centered teaching and the incorporation of technology in the language classroom, the more driven and engaged the students are in language learning. Students' motivation and involvement in online language learning are not related to their views about the significance of instructors in their life, which is contrary to what many people believe. When it comes to incorporating technology into language courses, there are several pedagogical assumptions that enable EFL teachers to do so effectively. More broadly stated, this study has implications for increasing language instructors' digital literacy to develop more motivating, productive, and engaging language courses for 21st-century learning to improve language students' digital literacy.

Blackboard Adoption in EFL Teaching: Instructors’ Acceptance and Use

This study aims to investigate the link between the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model (UTAUT) and the acceptance and use of Blackboard (BB) among English as a foreign language (EFL) instructors. The UTAUT model was employed to determine the strength of predictors for EFL instructors’ willingness to use BB for educational purposes. A questionnaire was administered to 80 EFL instructors at Taibah University. The results indicated that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), and facilitating conditions (FC) positively and directly correlated with behavioral intention (BI) to adopt and use BB in language classes. However, this study did not find a significant association between social influence (SI) and BI. Keywords: Blackboard, EFL classes, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, online language learning

EFL Students’ Perspective on the Use of Quizizz as Online Learning Media During COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this research is to investigate and describe the students' perspectives on the use of Quizizz in their online language learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This research was done using a descriptive qualitative research design conducted at a public university in Central Java. Furthermore, there were two participants in this research, male and female. In addition, the data were collected from the interview as the main source for this research. Additionally, thematic analysis was used by the researcher to analyze the data findings. This research revealed that students had a positive view of the use of Quizizz as learning media. It was found that Quizizz became one of the online learning media that helped students during online learning. Moreover, the findings showed Quizizz keeps students motivated, makes them pay attention during online learning, and also affects students' concentration during their online learning.

Learning English in a Virtual Set-up: Motivations and Amotivations among Language Learners

The COVID-19 outbreak brought unprecedented challenges in the academe. Educational institutions transitioned to distance learning primarily through online and modular learning. Moreover, with the rapid development of online learning, one of the concerns in the field of online education is regarding students’ motivation to learn and to stay engaged in an online environment. Thus, this present study aimed to determine the motivations and amotivations of language learners in online language learning. The participants of the study include seven language learners, who were selected through a purposive sampling method. A descriptive qualitative research design was employed, and individual in-depth interviews were conducted to gather the data. The responses were transcribed and analyzed through thematic analysis. Furthermore, it was found out in the interviews that the motivations of the respondents in learning English online include learning in a convenient set-up, creating a room for independent learning, utilizing online learning tools, apps, and resources, developing technological competence, watching multimedia videos for learning, and exploring the features of the educational applications. On the contrary, the limited interaction, less interactive activities, poor and unstable internet connectivity, less student participation, lack of comprehensive discussion of the lesson, rare opportunity to enhance speaking skills, absence or delayed feedback from the teacher, inconsiderate teachers towards students’ situation, and the fact that online language learning can trigger procrastination and unproductivity are found to be the amotivations of the respondents in learning English online.

EXPLORING EXPECTANCY THEORY AS MOTIVATION FOR LEARNING FRENCH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE ACROSS GENDER

Previously many language teachers feared that online learning may not give the same impact that it had for face-to-face learning. Nevertheless, now, online learning has become a new norm. More studies on online language learning have emerged. Past studies have shown that the success (or failure) of online classes is the strength of the engagement that took place during the online sessions. This study is done to see if there are gender differences in the learning of a foreign language; French; specifically in terms of Valence, instrumentality, expectancy. French as a foreign language across gender. The instrument used is a survey with four sections. Section A looks at the demographic profile, Section B looks at Valence, Section C looks at Instrumentality and Section D looks at Expectancy. A total of 170 learners responded to the survey. 44 of them were male learners, while 126 were female. Findings revealed variations in gender motivation and perceptions of online language learning. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0876/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>