EFL Educators’ Insights into Online Education and its Impact on Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

After months of 100% online teaching due to the pandemic produced by COVID-19, the return to face-to-face classes is being experienced. This study focused on finding the English as a foreign language (EFL) University professors’ perspectives of online education during that time. The information was collected from three Ecuadorian universities: The Technical University of Ambato, The Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, and The University of Cuenca. The survey was designed with 26 questions about professors’ perceptions of online teaching and its impact on their pedagogical practices, affective factors, and student achievement. Software R, and the Cronbach's alpha tests were used as statistical tools, along with Kendall's Tau_b, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results showed that teaching online not only represents a solution in cases where face-to-face education is not possible, but also offers teachers the opportunity to experience the benefits of using technological tools and innovative strategies. Although some drawbacks, such as lack of time and real interaction were encountered, online teaching resulted in an alternative methodology that engaged learners.