Students’ Readiness Levels towards Online English Courses in Higher Education

Year 2019, Volume: 23 Issue: 2, 783 - 795, 15.06.2019

Tevfik Darıyemez

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate
students’ readiness level towards online English courses given in higher
education. A Likert type questionnaire was used to explore whether students
were ready to take English courses online. The data was descriptively analysed
with the statistical programme, SPSS 20. Results showed that most of the
students have enough computer and smartphone skills to follow courses online. Despite
their skills, most students do not know how to use Learning Management System
(LMS) effectively. Moreover, their attitudes towards teaching and learning
English online is quite diverse. While some learners favour online instruction,
others do not as they think it is ineffective. A great majority of students
place a high value on learning English, but they do not know how to design a
study plan. Being an autonomous learner is a prerequisite for success in higher
education, and the study found that many students at tertiary level lack that
trait. 

Keywords

online courses, distance education, learner autonomy, web-based instruction

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