EFL Learners' Online Learning Anxiety during the COVID-۱۹ Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

The outbreak of the COVID-۱۹ pandemic has faced the global education community with numerous challenges. Given the impact of the classroom procedures on learners’ level of anxiety in EFL classes, the sudden shift to online learning resulting from the global pandemic may endanger their confidence. The current study aimed to explore the reasons behind the learners’ anxiety in online classes within the pandemic period and the possible solutions to lower their level of anxiety from the students’ and teachers’ perspectives. To this end, ۵۳ students and ۱۰ English teachers were asked to answer four open-ended questions in the form of self-reflection essays. The results revealed that the most common sources of anxiety were low speed and high cost of the internet and limited interaction and can be solved through having an organized plan, checking the net and the required devices, and getting familiarized with the platforms. Moreover, the students believed that the teachers can reduce the students’ anxiety by making the right choice of technological devices, enriching the class by providing interesting learning conditions, and having a professional manner. On the other hand, the teachers asserted that they can decrease the students’ anxiety through setting reasonable expectations, offering sufficient time, considering multi-media content, recording their classes and uploading them, and using various forms of assessment. Besides, both groups of participants believed that online sessions would evoke higher levels of anxiety compared to in-person classes. The findings may raise the administrators’ consciousness about the importance of providing the required technological and internet facilities. The teachers are also recommended to take advantage of a wide range of techniques and approaches to make the class more enjoyable and less anxiety-provoking.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ Pandemic ، Online Learning Anxiety ، English as a Foreign Language ، Self-reflections