Saudi Females Beginners’ Attitudes Towards Full-online Learning Through EFL Virtual Classrooms During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Mastery of English is indispensable for students to pursue their university major in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it is mandatory for Saudi undergraduates studying at the preparatory year programs to get high scores in the EFL course to be eligible to enroll in the Bachelor’s degree programs. However, the sudden shift to distance learning worldwide to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic affects the university beginners’ attitudes to learn EFL. This article examines the general perceptions of Jubail University College EFL female students’ towards learning English through full online mode. Also, the study displays the benefits and drawbacks the EFL students have encountered while using the virtual classroom during the pandemic. Their views were investigated through in-depth one-on-one interviews and focused group discussion done virtually by the author. The results reveal that the majority of students have formed negative attitudes toward EFL virtual classrooms and preferred traditional classrooms. In addition, the results present solutions suggested by the participants to enhance the quality of full-online English language teaching, which could be useful for EFL language instructors