CHALLENGES AND ADAPTABILITY OF LANGUAGE TEACHERS TOWARDS VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS DURING COVID 19

The outbreak of COVID 19 has locked down entire country and created a crisis situation. It compelled all Educational Institutions to close down.  To keep teaching-learning process continuing, massive shift is being observed from physical classrooms to virtual classrooms. Language plays a key role in learning. Hence meaningful language learning is a must. Creating a conducive learning environment to teach languages effectively online, necessitates the use of virtual classroom by Language Teachers. However, it may create various challenges, unless the mindset of the teachers is positive and ready to adapt to new situations. Present study aims to find out challenges faced by the language teachers and their adaptability towards online teaching during COVID pandemic.  The researcher used descriptive survey method. The sample of the study included 51 language teachers teaching at college level in the state of Maharashtra. The sampling technique used was snowballing through known contacts.  The tool used was questionnaire. Data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such percentage, mean, standard deviation, graphical representation and ‘t’ test. The findings of the study revealed that there is significant difference between the challenges faced by urban and rural language teachers. But no significant difference was found among urban and rural language teachers in adaptability towards virtual classroom teaching. Though teachers tried to adapt to online teaching voluntarily, proper training in the use of e-learning platforms, apt digital tools for language development and development of new skill set are recommended to adapt to the new normal effectively.