A Study on Learners’ Response to Online College English Class as General Education Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study aims to discuss how the college English program as general education should be adapted to the new circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly based on the answers of 248 undergraduate students to a weekly and term-end questionnaire, all of whom attended the 14 week on-line classes. The analysis on the negative and positive aspects of asynchronous on-line classes is presented. The results showed that they had difficulty with the low voice recordings and the unbalanced sound, assignment submission, instruction speed, self-directed learning, and lack of communication. However, they were satisfied with the learning effectiveness due to iterative listening, appropriate organization and partitioning, and the presentation of diverse materials. In terms of on-line lecture type, they have a preference for the asynchronous type during the continuing COVID-19 crisis of the 2020 fall semester. When it comes to the post-COVID-19 college English program as general education, their preference for an on-line only type of class is divided. It seems that they were cautious about an off-line only type and positive about an on-and off-line blended type of class. This research has significance in that the findings can be used as a basic reference regarding the design and implementation of similar online classes.