Individual factors that keep online English learners from greater success: the case of HCMC Open University

Abstract

A variety of challenges in online training are found in numerous learning environments such as cultural background, accessibility, technology, learning content and so on. In the developed or western societies, the online training has been developing in a stable way for decades, while numerous typical obstacles seem to be visible in developing countries including student support, flexibility, teaching and learning activities, access, academic confidence, localization and attitudes (Andersson, 2008). These difficulties are not excluded in the context of online English training system (OETS) at Ho Chi Minh City Open University (HCMCOU). Although this institution ever makes effort to limit these possible challenges for ages, plenty of impactful issues leading to serious difficulties of OETS also obviously exist. Hence, to fully explore the key factors that cause greater barriers in this training system, a qualitative on traditions of bioghaphy and grounded theory method was applied. The qualitative data is to be collected from the responses on openended questionaire sent for 30 online English majors and indirect interviews with 5 salient learners were also conducted. The findings show that some minor limitations of learners such as negative learning habits, willpower shortage and neglected learning perception lead to greater barriers of online English training.