Online English Lessons in Western Thrace, Greece: Students and Parents’ Perspectives

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have switched their education systems from the traditional classroom to an online learning environment to prevent the spreading of the virus. This study was designed to investigate the experiences of online English education of elementary students in the Western Thrace region of Greece during the coronavirus pandemic. It is further searched whether their demographic background influences their online English language education process, whether they are proficient users of technology, and whether they find it challenging to attend online classes. The quantitative data were collected through a scale from a hundred students and structured interview questions were used to collect the qualitative data from both students and parents. Based on the results, it was concluded that the participant students were sufficiently adept at using technology to take part in online courses. Nonetheless, the majority of them occasionally experienced some difficulties. Additionally, it was discovered that most students' opinions of online English instruction were favorable. Finally, the majority of parents who responded were pleased with the online English classes conducted throughout the pandemic.

Keywords

• Pandemic Period
• Online Education
• Primary School Students
• Online English Language Education
• Western Thrace

Batı Trakya, Yunanistan'da Çevrimiçi İngilizce Dersleri: Öğrenci ve Veli Görüşleri

Öz

Dünya çapında yayılan Covid-19 virüsü döneminde eğitim kurumları, virüsün kişiden kişiye bulaşmasını önlemek amacıyla çevrimiçi eğitime geçiş yapmıştır. Bu çalışmada, pandemi döneminde Yunanistan’ın Batı Trakya bölgesinde çevrimiçi İngilizce eğitimi alan ilkokul öğrencilerinin görüşleri incelenmiştir. Öğrencilerin demografik özelliklerinin, yeterli teknolojik araç gerece sahip olup olmamalarının ya da çevrimiçi derslere katılım esnasında problem yaşamanın çevrimiçi İngilizce eğitim süreciyle ilgili algılarını etkileyip etkilemediği araştırılmıştır. Araştırmanın amacına ulaşmak için ölçek ve yapılandırılmış mülakat soruları kullanılmıştır. Öğrenci görüşlerinden elde edilen ölçek sonuçları, öğrencilerin her birinin çevrimiçi İngilizce dersine katılım için gereken teknolojiye sahip olduğunu ancak çoğunluğunun derslere katılım esnasında sorun yaşadığını göstermiştir. Bulguların geneline göre ise öğrenciler çevrimiçi İngilizce eğitim süreci hakkında çoğunlukla olumlu bakış açısı taşımaktadırlar. Yine velilerin mülakat sorularına verdikleri yanıtlardan elde edilen bulgular, çoğunun pandemi döneminde işlenen çevrimiçi İngilizce derslerinden memnun olduğunu göstermiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Pandemi Dönemi
• Çevrimiçi Eğitim
• İlkokul Öğrencileri
• Online İngilizce Eğitimi
• Batı Trakya

Kaynakça

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