Proceedings of The 5th World Conference on Teaching and Education
Year: 2022
DOI:
[PDF]
Overcoming Online Teaching and Learning Challenges in the Japanese Context
Adam Christopher
ABSTRACT:
This study investigates the challenges faced by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructors while delivering online EFL classes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. The study investigates how they have overcome obstacles and what they have discovered from their experiences that can help online language instructors improve the quality of instruction they provide. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven EFL instructors at the English Department of a Japanese university using Microsoft Teams. During the interviews, participants revealed how they overcame challenges to interest students in their online classes and how they came up with unique techniques to teaching. Based on the findings, it appears that the online pedagogical training that instructors received was inadequate. As a result, the study recommends that universities should formulate standardized guidelines for the delivery of education over the internet and expand the types of opportunities provided for instructors to receive adequate training.
keywords: training, Japan, instructors, EFL, COVID-19