Foreign Language Teaching During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Differences in Students' Attitudes Towards the Online LSP Course. The Case of the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an analysis of the attitudes of students of the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security at the University of Maribor (FVV UM) towards the use of distance learning tools in their language for specific purposes (LSP) course. Our aim was to investigate the students' experience with LSP distance learning tools by focusing on the impact of different language teaching methods on the respondents' attitudes towards LSP distance learning tools, on the students' and professors' perceptions regarding the use of digital tools for online learning and the professors' ability to adapt their teaching methods to online learning. The results were as follows: there were no major differences in attitudes regarding the students' gender, the students have proven to have sufficient knowledge of the use of digital tools, the professors have proven to have sufficient knowledge of the use of digital tools and are able to adapt them accordingly, although the perceptions of students regarding the adaptations made by the professors differed significantly from those of the professors. Consequently, a more informed choice of teaching methods and approaches should be made that would ensure better learning outcomes also in the case of online teaching.