We’re more equal on Zoom: Inclusion and personal relations in the virtual classroom. Why we shouldn’t abandon what we’ve learned in the pandemic

Abstract

Foreign language teaching as well as courses on culture and civilization have had to switch to an online format during the pandemic. During this time, instructors had to defend their teaching methods against reproaches that these course contents could only be adequately taught in a face-to-face setting in a physical classroom. This article shows how online tools create inclusion and closeness in virtual settings and explains that for some learners, online teaching might generally be the better option. Based on our own opinion poll, a brief literature review and a presentation of our best practice examples, we argue that before, during and after the pandemic, online teaching has its advantages that can be applied in a meaningful, targeted way.