An Investigation of EFL Learners’ and Teachers’ Attitudes towards Online Learning of the Speaking Skill

Abstract

The present study investigated EFL learners and teachers attitudes towards online learning of the speaking skill. It aimed to shed light on the effectiveness of the online mode of learning speaking and the attitudes of both learners and teachers towards this approach. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, a qualitative approach was opted to gather and analyze data. Two questionnaires were administered to both second year EFL learners and oral expression teachers at the department of English at Mohammed Seddik Ben Yahia, Jijel. In the light of the obtained results, students have positive attitudes towards online learning of the speaking skill, they consider it effective because it helps them express themselves more freely and develop their speaking skills in an individualized environment at their own pace and time. As EFL learners, they encounter difficulties in using this new method such as: time management, unfamiliarity with the online learning technologies, insufficient opportunities for practicing speaking, in addition to limited interaction between students and teachers. However, it was found that teachers of oral expression have negative attitudes towards online learning of the speaking skill, because most of them believe that this approach is not effective for teaching speaking, and that they encounter difficulties in using this method mainly related to time constraints, students’ lack of motivation and concentration, in addition to internet access problems