Akadēmiskais centrshttps://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2023.59 | 746-755 | PDF
Opportunities and Challenges of Videoconferencing-Based Teaching among English Teachers
Hasan Selcuk1, Lilian Isperdon2
1 University of Latvia, Latvia
2 Charles University, Czech Republic
Abstract. Over the last decade, online English as a foreign language learning courses have become increasingly popular since teachers and practitioners have realised the benefits of synchronous, video conferencing-based learning activities for their learners. Not all teachers (especially pre-service teachers) are, however, sufficiently well-versed in implementing video conferencing-based English teaching to use its benefits effectively. A qualitative research study aiming to investigate the opportunities and challenges experienced by six pre-service teachers of English as a foreign language in their video conferencing-based praxis was thus devised. It included a five-week, practice-based teacher training course for video conferencing-based English teaching followed by a five-week teaching practice. The study’s findings revealed several opportunities, such as video conferencing-based English courses effectively facilitating productive skills (e.g., speaking and writing) by implementing collaborative learning strategies that support cognitive processes and promote social interaction. Furthermore, the nature of video conferencing-based English teaching encouraged the pre-service teachers to utilise more active learning approaches to keep learners’ interest and engagement in class, potentially leading to longer retention of vocabulary, enhanced comprehension, improved motivation, and critical thinking skills. There were also several challenges. For example, not all pre-service teachers found video conferencing tools engaging or easy to cope with due to limited internet speed, which may affect the quality of video and audio communication. Additionally, instructional design should be tailored to learners’ physiological and psychological needs, including fatigue, technology-related stress, and anxieties. The findings from this study provide valuable insights for educators, policy-makers, and researchers and contribute to the ongoing discourse on the use of technology in foreign language education.
Keywords: teacher training; future teachers; online learning, foreign language education; videoconferencing
In: Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2023. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Cilvēks, tehnoloģijas un izglītības kvalitāte, 2023. Rakstu krājums
Riga, University of Latvia, 2023. 796 p. Ed. L. Daniela
https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2023
ISBN 978-9934-36-116-6