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

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.

Technology, Pedagogy & Assessment: Challenges of COVID19-Imposed E-Teaching of ESP to Saudi Female PY Students

“…There are also some resources but are not easy to access for teachers and students. All technology-related challenges of this study support the findings of Akhter (2020), Hakim (2020) and Mahyoob (2020) which reveals that technological obstacles are the key challenges hampering effective online teaching ad learning process.…”

“…Arab World English Journal www.awej.org ISSN: 2229-9327 340 Mahyoob (2020) examined the difficulties and hurdles encountered by English language learners (EFL) in Science and Arts College, Alula, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia, during shifting to virtual learning in the second semester of 2020. According to the study, COVID-19 pandemic has "negatively influenced the learners' performance and learning outcomes" (Mahyoob, 2020, p. 10).…”

Female Saudi University Students’ Perceptions of Online Education Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Instructors knowing how to deal with technological tools efficiently results undoubtedly in a better learning experience. This finding is contrary to the results reported by Mahyoob (2020) who stated that most students in his study were not satisfied with their online learning experience and that they had many issues interacting and communicating with their instructors effectively. Research done on online education has emphasised the key role instructors play in online learning (Sun & Chen, 2016;Means & Neisler, 2020).…”

“…The response rate to this survey was relatively high, as it reached more than 80% of the targeted group, which could be an indication of the students' eagerness to voice their opinions on online learning. Unlike the study conducted by Mahyoob (2020), which gathered data on students' perceptions on online education during the early days of the shift to virtual classes, the present study gathered data during the second semester in the history of entirely online learning in Saudi Arabia. Students, have already had experience with online education and the technological issues that come about with it, and are thus less likely to report on major technological issues.…”

“…In the Saudi context, Mahyoob (2020) attempted to investigate the challenges faced by EFL learners at tertiary level amid the pandemic through the use of an online survey. The study focused on learners' views on the sudden transition to online education during the early days of the shift to online mode.…”