Attitudes and Perspectives of Saudi Female Medical Students towards Online EFL Education under COVID-19 Circumstances

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has caused many educational institutions across the globe to lockdown. Employing online educational models was the best solution to prevent the spread of the virus. This study depicts the attitudes and perspectives of Saudi female medical students towards online English language learning during the pandemic lockdown. The aim is to identify the challenges of online learning to understand the students' learning experiences and suggest practical solutions. The two main questions are: How do virtual education approaches influence students' educational behavior, and what are the students' perspectives towards virtual education amid the pandemic? After two semesters of solely distance education, a questionnaire was conducted to scrutinize students’ perceptions of online learning using Zoom, Cisco WebEx, and Blackboard platforms. Fifty-seven students enrolled in their first-year medical program in the 2020/2021 academic year participated in this study. "Quantitative as well as qualitative" methods were used. Results indicate that an average of 63.52% of students preferred distance education over onsite. However, 69.5% of students encountered technical difficulties. On the other hand, online education was more enjoyable than onsite education for 45.6% versus 19.3% who did not enjoy it. Further, 50.8% of students were more active during online classes, and 59.6% perceived online education as an efficient teaching method to expand their knowledge, skills, and social competence. The data reflects that the general attitudes towards distance education were positive. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate a need for special attention to providing further technical support for students who experience technical difficulties.