EFL students' perceptions about home learning experience during Covid 19 outbreak

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions, strategies, and challenges faced by EFL high school students within their home learning environment during Covid-19 pandemic. It was conducted in Loja, a city located to the southern part of Ecuador. A mixed-method approach was used, encompassing both a public and a private educational institution. The sample enclosed 29 EFL learners of a public high school and 12 students of a private educational institution. The instruments applied to gathering the data were a students' questionnaire, a teacher's questionnaire, and a focus group. The findings revealed that the main challenges students had to overcome were the difficulties concerning their online classes. However, students applied strategies that helped them to have a successful home learning experience. Given the varying realities experienced by each student, it is important to acknowledge that their perceptions differed significantly. The views of participants of public were that there were many positive aspects; meanwhile the private high school students perceptions evidenced their trouble about their distractions during their experiences.