Can MOOCs Promote EFL Learners’ English Communication Skills?

Abstract

By replacing part of a traditionally delivered course with a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), this study aimed to investigate the effect of a MOOC on the academic achievement of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners regarding their English communication skills, and the study also aimed to explore EFL learners’ perceptions on integrating a MOOC into their traditionally delivered course. The participants were 31 freshmen students enrolled in a compulsory course at a public university in Turkey. A mixed research method was employed. Data were collected through a quantitative review of achieved test results and written interviews, benefitting from both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. The results revealed that the use of MOOC significantly improved EFL learners’ English communication skills. Moreover, the following six major themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: fun, surprise, challenge, simplicity, universality, and interactivity. The effectiveness of the MOOC on EFL learners’ English communication skills, the challenges they faced, and their suggestions for improvement of the MOOC are further discussed in this study.

Keywords

• English as a foreign language; MOOCs; Communication skills

Supporting Institution

Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Education

Project Number

Not available

Thanks

I would like to thank all managers and students of Eskişehir Osmangazi University ELT Department.

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