Students And Teachers Perceptions Towards EFL Virtual Instruction.

Abstract

Abstract: The present study, entitled "Student and Teacher Perceptions of Online Teaching of English as a Foreign Language," examines the opinions and challenges experienced by students and teachers in online classrooms. Twenty-five students, their parents, and a teacher from a public secondary school in the city of Zaruma, El Oro, Ecuador, participated in the research. A mixed-method approach was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Instruments and techniques included questionnaires for students, parents, and a teacher, as well as an interview with the teacher. The questionnaire results were organized into ten tables and analyzed by calculating response percentages to provide relevant interpretations and address the two research questions. The findings revealed that the challenges faced by students and teachers related to interaction, instructions, feedback, and communication. Although students found the environment comfortable and the tasks manageable, they struggled with participation and use of online resources, feeling the feedback and materials provided were insufficient. Additionally, the teacher acknowledged the potential of virtual classes, but noted that the imbalance in intervention time reduces student participation.