Exploring Perceptions of Online Feedback in Teaching EFL Speaking and Writing Skills during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze perceptions of how online feedback was provided in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes, particularly to enhance speaking and writing skills, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were 102 teachers, 40 managers, 80 parents and 120 students from junior high school, senior high school, and higher education levels from 40 public and private educational institutions in southern Ecuador. The sample selection was based on purposeful sampling (voluntary participation). The instruments included questionnaires from students, teachers, parents and educational authorities. In addition, an interview was used to ascertain students’ views about the feedback received in speaking and writing activities. The instruments were designed to collect information about perceptions regarding online feedback in EFL remote teaching of speaking and writing skills. The questionnaires were designed to collect information about feedback for productive skills in EFL remote teaching. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicate that online feedback is perceived as an aspect that seems to have a better quality in private institutions, especially in activities related to EFL speaking and writing skills. Another important finding was that technological tools in the EFL classroom are believed to be efficient since teachers in public and private institutions use a variety of technological resources for teaching speaking and writing skills. The fundamental aspects of feedback were time and teacher training.