|
|
2017 » Papers » Volume 1 » Research into theoretical background to an online EFL course. 1. RESEARCH INTO THEORETICAL BACKGROUND TO AN ONLINE EFL COURSE. Authors: Troshina Yulia, Sazonova Natalia Volume 1 | DOI: 10.12753/2066-026X-17-081 | Pages: 550-557 | Download PDF | Abstract
The purpose of this article is to introduce a solid theoretical background to designing a practical online English course. To this end we conducted a survey to collect university students’ opinions, expectations, and previous experiences of e-learning. We believe that obtained information can help us create an efficient e-learning system which would satisfy the learners’ needs. Students could benefit from such course because some current English syllabi include 70% and more of self-instruction. We surveyed about 300 people, all of whom are students of Ural Federal University aged 17-22 with approximately equal number of men and women. In what follows we enumerate some of our findings. First, most of the students range between CEFR A1 and B2 which limits our target audience to these levels. Second, the majority of students are ready to spend 1-3 hours a week on the course. Third, in line with modern communicative approach to teaching English we expected students to be more focused on lexical rather than grammatical aspect of language, and general English rather than ESP. General English appeared to be more preferable, 67% chose it over ESP, with grammar/vocabulary distribution being approximately equal. We discovered preferable forms of input, output and assessment. Majority of students would enjoy the possibility of both working individually and together, moreover they expect to have a forum for communication. Answers concerning motivation were varied but most of the respondents prefer to get some credits for completing the course. In open question form students shared their experiences in doing other online courses. It gives the chance to take into account and minimize difficulties and problems listed by the respondents. | Keywords
online course, EFL, syllabus, learners' needs, course design |
|
|
|