Challenges of e-Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic Experienced by EFL Learners

Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), Volume 11, Number 4, December 2020

12 Pages Posted: 1 Jan 2021

Date Written: December 2020

Abstract

COVID-19 has disrupted most of the industries in the world. Education is the only industry that is completely transferred to online mode in most countries around the world. Online learning was the best solution for continuing education during the pandemic, especially in tertiary education. This study aims to determine the challenges and obstacles confronted by English language learners (EFL) in Science and Arts College, Alula, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia, during switching to online learning in the second semester of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The contribution of this study is to evaluate the learners’ new experiences in online education and to assess the feasibility of the virtual methods of learning. This is achieved by analyzing 184 learners’ responses to the survey-based questionnaire. A descriptive statistical method was used to test the validation of the study. It is found that the main problems that influence and impact online EFL learning during COVID-19 are related to technical, academic, and communication challenges. The study results show that most EFL learners are not satisfied with continuing online learning, as they could not fulfill the expected progress in language learning performance.

Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic, EFL learners, learning challenges, Online learning, Taibah University

Suggested Citation

Albuhairy, Mohammad Mahyoob, Challenges of e-Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic Experienced by EFL Learners (December 2020). Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), Volume 11, Number 4, December 2020 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3652757

Mohammad Mahyoob Albuhairy (Contact Author)

Taibah University ( email )

Prince Naif Ibn Abdulaziz, Tayba, Medina Saudi Ara
Mediana, Madinah
Saudi Arabia

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
10,387
Abstract Views
24,240
Rank
1,146
PlumX Metrics