Challenges and Opportunities of English Grammar Acquisition by Distance at the Tertiary Level

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22364/BJELLC.11.2021.01

Keywords:

English grammar acquisition, distance learning, independent study skills, tertiary level students

Abstract

Distance learning introduced in almost all educational establishments in spring 2020 has raised interest among researchers how to deal with it in a more productive way. Thus, the goal of the research was to find out undergraduates’ views on distance learning of English grammar and the use of online revision materials in developing students’ independent study skills at a tertiary institution in Latvia. the research tool was a questionnaire consisting of open-ended and closed questions. Twenty-three students answered the survey questions. the research results indicate that studying by distance is preferred because it allows the students to choose the study time and place, to develop their timemanagement, independent study skills, as well as improve their motivation. the main drawbacks of studying by distance, according to the students, are insufficient feedback, inability to ask questions directly and receive immediate answers and problems with their own time management and independent study skills.

References

Al Lily, E. A., Ismail, A. F., Abunasser, F. M. and Alqahtani, R. H. A. (2020) Distance education as a response to pandemics: Coronavirus and Arab culture. Technology in Society, 63: 1-11. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/

j.techsoc.2020.101317 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Arrosagaray, M., González-Peiteado, M., Pino-Juste, M. and Rodríguez-López, B. (2019) a comparative study of Spanish adult students’ attitudes to ICT in classroom, blended and distance language learning modes. Computers & Education, 134: 31-40. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.01.016 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Benson, A. D. (2002) Using online learning to meet workforce demand: a case study of stakeholder influence. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 3 (4): 443-452.

Bernacki, M.L., Greene, J. A. and Crompton, H. (2020) Mobile technology, learning, and achievement: Advances in understanding and measuring the role of mobile technology in education. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 60: 1‑8. Available from https://doi.org/10.106/j.cedpsych.2019.101827 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Chambers, A. and Bax, S. (2006). Making CALL work: Towards normalisation. System, 34: 465–479. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2006.08.001 [Accessed on 20 December 2020]

Chang, C., Chang, C.-K. and Shi, J.-L. (2016) Motivational strategies in a mobile enquiry-based language learning setting. System, 59: 100-115.

Cheng, P. and Ding, R. (2021) the effect of online review exercises on student course engagement and learning performance: a case study of an introductory financial accounting course at an international joint venture university. Journal of Accounting Education, 54: 1- 25.

Cheng. C. and Crumbley, D. L. (2018) Student and professor use of publisher banks and implications for fair play. Journal of Accounting Education, 42: 1-16.

Dendir, S. and Maxwell, R.S. (2020) Cheating in online courses: Evidence from online proctoring. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 2: 100033. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2020.100033 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Driscoll, A. Jichna, K. Hunt, A.N. Tichavsky, L. and Thompson, G. (2012) Can online courses deliver in-class results? A comparison of student performance and satisfaction in an online versus a face-to-face introductory sociology course. Teaching Sociology, 40 (4): 312-331.

Ekmekçi, E. (2015) Distance-education in foreign language teaching: evaluations from the perspectives of freshman students. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 176: 390-397. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.487

Ellis, R. (1993) Interpretation-based grammar teaching. System, 21 (1): 69-78.

Ellis, R. (2005) Principles of instructed language learning. System, 33: 209-224.

Ellis, R. (2006) the methodology of task-based teaching. the Asian EFL Journal Quarterly, 8 (3) 19-45.

Ellis, R. (2015) the Importance of focus on form in communicative language teaching. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1 (2): 1-12.

Ellis, R. (2016) Focus on form: a critical review. Language Teaching Research, 20 (3): 405-428.

Ellis, R., Basturkmen, H. and Loewen, S. (2002) Doing focus-on-form. System, 30: 419-432.

Frith, K. (2013) an overview of Distance education and Online courses. In K.H. Frith and D. J. Clark (eds.) Distance Education in Nursing, 3rd ed. (pp.17-29). New York: Springer.

Golden, J. and Kohlbeck, M. (2020) Addressing cheating when using test bank questions in online Classes. Journal of Accounting Education, 52: 100671. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/jaccedu.2020.100671 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Granić, A., Mifsud and Ćukušić, M. (2009) Design, implementation and validation of a Europe-wide pedagogical framework for e-Learning. Computers and Education, 53: 1052-1081.

Gregori, P., Martínez, V. and Moyano-Fernández, J. J. (2018) Basic actions to reduce dropout rates in distance learning. Evaluation and Program Planning, 66: 48-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.10.004 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Griffiths, B. (2016) Faculty’s approach to distance learning standardization. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 11: 157-162. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2016.04.004 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Hu, X., Gong, Y., Lai, C. and Leung, F. K. S. (2018) the relationship between ICT and student literacy in mathematics, reading, and science across 44 countries: a multilevel analysis. Computers & Education, 125: 1-3.

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2015) Research into practice: grammar learning and teaching. Language Teaching, 48.2: 263-280.

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2013) Transfer of learning transformed. Language Learning, 63, Special Issue: 107–129.

Lee, K., Choi, H. and Cho, Y. H. (2019) Becoming a competent self: a developmental process of adult distance learning. the Internet and Higher Education, 41: 25-33. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2018.12.001 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Liang, J. -C. and Tsai, C. -C. (2008) Internet self-efficacy and preferences toward constructivist Internet-based learning environments: a study of pre-school teachers in Taiwan. Educational Technology & Society, 11 (1): 226-237.

Long, M. (1991) Focus on form: a design feature in language teaching methodology. In K. de Bot, R. Ginsberg and C. Kramsch (eds.) Foreign Language Research in Cross-Cultural Perspective (pp. 39–52). John Benjamin, Amsterdam.

Long, M. H. (1998) Focus on form in task-based language teaching. Working Papers in ESL, 16 (2, Spring): 35-49.

Lowenthal, P. R., Wilson, B. and Parrish, P. (2009). Context matters: a description and typology of the online learning landscape. Paper presented at the 2009 AECT International Convention, October Louisville, KY.

Moore, J. L., Dickson-Deane, C. and Galyen K. (2011) e-Learning, online learning, and distance learning environments: Are they the same? Internet and Higher Education, 12: 129-135.

Nassaji, H. (2017) Grammar acquisition. In S. Loewen and M. Sato (eds.) the Routledge Handbook of Instructed Second Language Learning (pp. 205-223). New York, NY and Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Nassaji, H. and Fotos, S. (2010) Teaching Grammar in Second Language Classrooms. Integrating form-focused instruction in communicative context. New York: Routledge.

Ramsden, P. (2003) Learning to Teach in Higher Education, 2nd ed. London: Routledge Falmer.

Savage, A. and Simkin, M., G. (2010) Ethical concerns about the online sale of instructor-only textbook resources. Research on Professional Responsibility and Ethics in Accounting, 14: 213-231.

Schmidt, R. (2001). Attention. In P. Robinson (ed.) Cognition and Second Language Instruction (pp. 3-32). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available from https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524780.003 [Accessed on 20 December 2020].

Seaman, J. E., Allen, I. E. and Seaman, J. (2018) Grade Increase: tracking distance education in the United States. Babson Survey Research group.

Stickler, U. and Shi, L. (2016) Tell about CALL: an introduction to the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) on the development of technology enhanced and computer assisted language learning published in the System journal. System, 56: 119-126.

Trowler, V. and Trowler, P. (2010) Student Engagement Evidence Summary. York: Higher Education Academy.

Downloads

Published

2021-07-26

How to Cite

Farneste, M., & Apse, V. (2021). Challenges and Opportunities of English Grammar Acquisition by Distance at the Tertiary Level. Baltic Journal of English Language, Literature and Culture, 11, 4–20. https://doi.org/10.22364/BJELLC.11.2021.01

Most read articles by the same author(s)