The overall aim of this master thesis is to examine which opportunities and issues within the virtual EFL classroom could arise from distance learning in Germany. Therefore, the first chapter will examine the difference between homeschooling and distance learning, since their definitions are not the same. It is also relevant to look at different countries and their regulations and implementations for home-schooling or distance learning in order to retrace the arguments for and against a possible implementation of homeschooling in Germany.
The closure of German schools during the lockdown(s) forced teachers, students and parents to change over to distance learning. As this adjustment has presented a challenge for all persons involved, there is a need to identify appropriate tools and methods for the virtual EFL classroom. Hence, it is relevant to learn about the experiences of teachers who presented and students who attended online English lessons. This will be done in form of online questionnaires which aim to identify appropriate digital resources for the virtual EFL classroom as well as possibilities and problems that could arise from distance learn-ing in EFL.
The final step of this thesis is to develop a sample online English lesson in times of distance learning as an alternative possibility to a traditional English lesson in the class-room on the basis of the results from the questionnaires. Therefore, both perspectives -teachers and students- will be taken into consideration, since their experiences help to im-prove distance learning in English. The main goal of the development of this online lesson in English is to show that teachers are also able to fulfill the requirements of the curriculum in distance learning and bearing this in mind, a possible implementation of a hybrid learning system could be an alternative way of learning and teaching for the future.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Homeschooling vs. distance learning.
- Homeschooling: different regulations in different countries...
- Distance Learning: the involuntary implementation of distance learning in Europe (Germany) and its variations due to the Corona Pandemic.....
- The prerequisite of digital media..
- Defining digital media and media literacy
- Studies on the usage of digital media and the process of digitalization in schools....
- Advantages and disadvantages of digital media in schools and in distance learning
- Digital media in EFL education: the flipped classroom.
- Language learning strategies in independent learning environments..
- Distance learning during the lockdowns in Germany
- Surveying digital tools and methods within the virtual EFL classroom....
- The outcomes and results of the study
- The teacher perspective.
- The student perspective.
- Opportunities for distance learning in EFL.
- Issues of distance learning in EFL..
- A sample online English lesson on the basis of the surveys' outcomes.
- Fostering students' intercultural communicative competence through exploring another country.
- Reflected choice of digital resources for the sample online lesson.
- Outlook on further online lessons about Canada.
- Alternative ways to traditional EFL classroom teaching for the future
- Conclusion and outlook………………….
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This master thesis aims to investigate the opportunities and challenges presented by distance learning in the virtual EFL classroom in Germany, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study will compare homeschooling and distance learning, analyze the role of digital media in EFL education, and examine the experiences of teachers and students participating in online English lessons during the lockdowns.
- The distinction between homeschooling and distance learning
- The importance of digital media in distance learning and EFL education
- The effectiveness of digital tools and methods in the virtual EFL classroom
- The experiences of teachers and students in online English lessons during the pandemic
- Developing a sample online English lesson as an alternative to traditional classroom teaching
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter defines and contrasts homeschooling and distance learning, exploring how these approaches to education are implemented and regulated in different countries. The second chapter investigates the crucial role of digital media in distance learning and EFL education, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of its usage in educational settings. The third chapter delves into the experiences of teachers and students during the lockdowns in Germany, surveying digital tools and methods used in virtual EFL classrooms. The fourth chapter presents a sample online English lesson designed to foster students' intercultural communicative competence, utilizing digital resources and reflecting on the results of the surveys.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This master thesis focuses on the intersection of digital media, EFL education, distance learning, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Key concepts explored include homeschooling, online learning environments, digital tools and methods, teacher and student perspectives, and the development of a sample online English lesson.
- Citar trabajo
- Anonym (Autor), 2021, Surveying digital Tools and Methods for the virtual EFL Classroom. A sample online English lesson and methodologies reflected, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1176083
