Learning from Pandemic to Shape Distance Education for International Students

Abstract

Like their counterparts in many other countries, international students in Türkiye had to face additional problems during COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated radical changes in education. Distance learning was the most common form of education used in higher education system to cope with the challenges that emerged during the pandemic. Higher education institutions went through a demanding process in ensuring equity and inclusion particularly for those who had difficulty in getting proper education. This study was conducted to investigate the language related difficulties that international students might have had during distance education in that period. Within that aim, a qualitative study was designed to examine the views of international students in terms of four language skills, and the study group was composed of fourteen international students. The data obtained through interview notes, recorded voices and a semi-structured interview form were analysed by content analysis technique. Consequently, the language related difficulties that the participants had during the distance education in COVID-19 period were sorted under four main themes, namely productive skills, receptive skills, recommendations for better distance education, and curriculum based problems. Comprehensive and sustainable studies on distance education in higher education, particularly on curriculum development, were recommended for further research.

Keywords

• Distance education
• International students
• Higher education
• Language problems

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