STUDENTS PERSPECTIVES IN COVID-19 OUTBREAKS TIME: LEARNING ENGLISH IN ONLINE CLASS OR IN FACE-TO-FACE CLASS?

Abstract

After two months of online learning, students of Sai Gon University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam could gain recognition of benefits and drawbacks of online learning in comparison with face-to-face learning. This article shows which learning mode was preferred more and the reasons by students of the university through a survey of 180 undergraduates from six general English classes. As a result, the number of participants who chose face-to-face mode was the same as that of who preferred online learning. The explanations of face-to-face learning voters were face-to-face interactions, less distraction factors, better environment for communication skill practice and more various learning activities. Flexibility of learning place and time, comfort and accessible online materials and lecture notes were the reasons for the online learning voters. A few participants could not decide their favorite mode of learning since both had their own outstanding benefits.