EFL teachers perceptions and methodological changes regarding face-to-face and virtual modality in Loja-Ecuador due to COVID-19

Abstract

Abstract: The present study Perceptions of teachers of English as a foreign language and methodological changes regarding the change of modality from face-to-face to virtual in the city ​​of Loja-Ecuador due to COVID-19 seeks to determine the perceptions of the teachers and methodological changes due to the change of modality. The participants were 40 teachers of English as a foreign language in general from urban and rural areas, from public and private institutions, and primary, secondary and university teachers of the city ​​of Loja-Ecuador. 30 teachers were surveyed and 10 teachers were interviewed; all the Information was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in virtual mode. For The development of this study applied a mixed method, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and The data collection instruments were 2 instruments: survey and interview. This study concludes that teachers experienced feelings of anxiety and fear; They had to get rid of these feelings and change methodologies to adapt them to the new modality, the methodologies most applied during the virtual classes were the approaches by tasks and flipped classrooms, taking into account the role of student autonomy.