Abstract
This study aimed to examine students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of virtual classrooms in enhancing their communication skills. Study participants were 43 female English majors at the College of Education at a Saudi Arabian university. This study was conducted during the first semester of the 2020/2021 academic year when COVID-19 restrictions necessitated online learning. The study implemented a mixed methodology approach in which qualitative and quantitative tools were used to collect data. Two data collection instruments were used: a questionnaire and observations. In the questionnaire findings, students identified lack of confidence, anxiety surrounding making mistakes, and lack of vocabulary as their greatest challenges when communicating in English. The questionnaire also revealed that students held positive attitudes towards the effectiveness of virtual classrooms in enhancing their oral communication skills. The observation data revealed that virtual classrooms can play a significant role in enhancing students’ communication skills. However, despite their positive views of virtual classrooms, students agreed that the lack of face-to-face communication was a major obstacle in online learning.
  
Highlights
Communication skills are essential in human interaction
4.2 Results Related to the Effectiveness of Virtual Classrooms in Enhancing English as a foreign language (EFL) Communication Skills
The data were gathered from a questionnaire distributed to the students to identify their oral communication problems and determine how they perceive the effectiveness of virtual classrooms in enhancing their communication skills
Summary
Communication skills are essential in human interaction. Acquiring high-level English communication skills can lead to better opportunities in both the personal and professional realm. In the field of English as a foreign language (EFL), oral communication is the most challenging and complicated skill for most learners to master (Alhamdi, 2014; Alhosni, 2014; Alshumaimeri, 2019). Communication skills require more than just knowledge of the theoretical aspects of grammar and vocabulary; the ability to communicate means being able to express oneself clearly and appropriately (Al-Mahrooqi, 2012). Many factors, such as teaching methodologies, curriculum, time limitations and class size, affect the development of communication skills in the classroom. Web-based language learning can contribute to enhancing students’ oral communication skills (Appel & Borges, 2012)
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