Abstract
Online education, including college English education, has been developing rapidly in the recent decade in China. Such aspects as e-readiness, benefits and challenges of online education were well-researched under normal situations, but fully online language teaching on a large-scale in emergencies may tell a different story. A survey of 2310 non-English-major college students and 149 English teachers from three types of twelve higher education institutions in Wuhan was conducted to evaluate their readiness for online English education during the COVID-19 pandemic, to figure out challenges encountered by them and to draw implications for future online college English education. Quantitative statistics gathered using two readiness scales adapted from previous studies showed that both cohorts were slightly below the ready level for the unexpected online transition of college English education. The overall level of readiness for students was 3.68 out of a score of 5, and that for teachers was 3.70. Individual differences were explored and reported. An analysis of qualitative results summarized six categories of challenges encountered by the students, i.e. technical challenges, challenges concerning learning process, learning environment, self-control, efficiency and effectiveness, and health concern. Though the students reported the highest level of readiness in technology access, they were most troubled by technical problems during online study. For teachers, among three types of challenges, they were most frustrated by pedagogical ones, especially students' disengagement in online class. The survey brought insights for online college English education development. Institutions should take the initiative and continue promoting the development of online college English education, because a majority of the respondents reported their willingness and intention to continue learning/teaching English in online or blended courses in the post-pandemic period. They are supposed to remove technical barriers for teachers and students, and assess the readiness levels of both cohorts before launching English courses online. Institutions should also arrange proper training for instructors involved, especially about pedagogical issues. Language teachers are suggested to pay special attention to students' engagement and communication in online courses.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous transformations in various aspects of the society since its outbreak
Teachers tended to choose what they were familiar with at first and continued to combine other tools recommended by colleagues or students, especially when problems occurred
The analysis found no statistically significant difference in overall level of readiness between male and female students, which was proved by Hung et al [40]
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous transformations in various aspects of the society since its outbreak. College English, a compulsory course for first- and second-grade non-English majors from HEIs offering degree programs, was no exception. This pandemic-prompted nation-wide online college English education was unprecedented in China. English teachers were forced to make what was thought to be impossible possible at short notice (mostly two weeks’ preparation) This online teaching in the face of COVID-19, or online triage [3], was carried out without sufficient need analysis or readiness evaluation from both the learning and the teaching sides. It was different from planned and well-prepared online education
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