Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 12. Number3   September 2021                                         Pp.507-523
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.34
Full Paper PDF

Boosted with Online Learning to Improve English Language Teachers’ Proficiency 

Szarmilaa Dewie
Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Helmi Norman
Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
Corresponding Author: helmi.norman@ukm.edu.my

Melor Md. Yunus
Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

 

Received:  7/8/2021                Accepted: 8/24/2021               Published: 9/29/2021

 

Abstract:
Language teaching and learning have been significantly transformed by the advent of online technology. Learning and information-gathering have been dramatically boosted by technology. Owing to online learning, physical geography is no longer a major obstacle. However, there has not been much study to portray online technologies and online learning improving teachers’ proficiency in the English language. With this in mind, the purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which online learning has improved teachers’ language proficiency. About 201 teachers from eight districts in Malaysia were enrolled in an online course. The study was conducted online for three months. Data was collected from an evaluation survey obtained at the end of the period. Responses gathered based on descriptive analysis of the course content, overall experience, and comments derived from the survey was then analyzed from the data. The findings revealed that the teachers are very positive towards the course and found it constructive in enhancing their professional development. The results also indicated that teachers have also improved their language component upon being enrolled in the course.  These documents that all the language skills have been enhanced, and they are very motivated. Therefore, future research should focus on a specific language component in order to gain a deeper insight of continuum from this study.
Keywords: English Language, online learning, learning management system, teachers’ proficiency

Cite as:  Dewie, A., Norman, H. , &Yunus, M.M. (2021). Boosted with Online Learning to Improve English Language
Teachers’ Proficiency .  Arab World English Journal, 12 (3) 507-523.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.34

References

Andersen, B. L., Na-songkhla, J., Hasse, C., Nordin, N., & Norman, H. (2018). Perceptions of authority in a massive open online course:
An intercultural study. International Review of Education, 64(2), 221-239.

Artino, A. R., & Jones, K. D. (2012). Exploring the complex relations between achievement emotions and self-regulated
learning behaviors in online learning. The Internet and Higher Education, 15(3), 170-175.

 Boetthcher, J. & Conrad, R. (2016). The Online Teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass

Budhai, S.S., & Skipwith, K.B. (2017). Best Practice in Engaging Online Learners through

Active and Experiential Learning Strategies. New York: Routledge

Cárdenas Ramos, R., & Chaves Varón, O. (2013). English Teaching in Cali: Teachers’ Proficiency Level Described.
Lenguaje, 41(2), 325-352. DOI: 10.25100/lenguaje.v41i2.4971

Cavus, N., Uzunboylu, H., & Ibrahim, D. (2007). Assessing the Success Rate of Students Using a Learning
Management System Together with a Collaborative Tool in Web-Based Programming Languages.
Journal Of Educational Computing Research, 36(3), 301-321. DOI:  10.2190/t728-g676-4n18-6871

Chua, C.N., Yunus, M. M., & Suliman, A.  (2019). ICT: An Effective Platform to Promote

Writing Skills among Chinese Primary School Pupils. Arab World English Journal, 10(4)
223-237. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej

United States Distance Learning Association. (2011). Distance Learning for Educators, Trainers, and Leaders, 8(1).
Retrieved from https://fr.scribd.com/document/361932449/Distance-learning-for-educators-trainers-and-leaders-Vol-8-No-1-2011-2

Dogan, H.et all. (2019). A Web-Based Intervention for Social Media Addiction Disorder Management in Higher Education:
Quantitative Survey Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(10),   e14834.

Ferri, F., Grifoni, P., & Guzzo, T. (2020). Online Learning and Emergency Remote Teaching:

Opportunities and Challenges in Emergency Situations. Societies, 10(4), 86. DOI:  10.3390/soc10040086

Forsberg, J. (2018). Gamification in Education – Utilization in Teaching of Languages. Bachelor’s   Degree. Aalto University.

Freeman,D., Katz,A., Gomez, P.B, & Burns, A. (2015). English-for-Teaching: Rethinking Teacher Proficiency in the Classroom. ELT Journal, 69(2), 129–139.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccu074

Garrison, R. (2009). Implications of Online Learning for the Conceptual development and

Practice of Distance Education. Journal of Distance Education, 23(2), 93-104.

Gatta, M. (2009). Online Learning for Low Skill Adults. America: Rutgers.

Harley, B., Allen, P., Cummins, J., & Swain, M. (Eds). (1990). The Development of Second Language Proficiency.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Hattie, J., Biggs, J., & Purdie, N. (1996). Effects of learning skills interventions on student learning: A meta-analysis.
Review of Educational Research, 66(2), 99-136.   DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2307/1170605

Hashim, H., Rafiq, K. R. M., & Yunus, M. M. (2019). Improving ESL Learners’ Grammar with

Gamified-Learning.  Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL, (5). 41-

50   DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call5.4

Howard, J. M., & Scott, A. (2017). Any Time, Any Place, Flexible Pace: Technology-Enhanced

Language Learning in a Teacher Education Programme. Australian       Journal of 

     Teacher Education, 42(6). 51-68. Retrieved from http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol42/iss6/4

Kaarakainen, M.-T., Kivinen, A., & Kaarakainen, S.-S. (2017). Differences between the genders in ICT
skills for Finnish upper comprehensive school students: Does gender matter? Seminar.net, 13(2).   Retrieved from https://journals.oslomet.no/index.php/seminar/article/view/2304

Kepol, N. (2017). Quality Malaysian English Language Teachers: Examining A Policy

Strategy. Malaysian Journal Of Learning And Instruction, (Vol. 14, No. 1 June 2017), 187 209.  DOI: 10.32890/mjli2017.14.1.8

Krishnan, P. D., & Yunus, M. M. (2019). Blended CEFR in Enhancing Vocabulary among Low

Proficiency Students. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL (5). 141-

  1. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call5.11

Le, V, C., & Renandya, W, A. (2017). Teachers’ English Proficiency and Classroom

Language Use: A Conversation Analysis Study. RELC Journal,  48(1),  67-81.DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688217690935

Lee, J., & Lee, W. (2008). The relationship of e-Learner’s self-regulatory efficacy and perception of e-Learning environmental quality. Computers In Human Behavior, 24(1), 32-47. DOI:  10.1016/j.chb.2006.12.001

Major, C.H. (2015). Teaching Online. United States: Johns Hopkins University Press

Maican, M., & Cocoradă, E. (2021). Online Foreign Language Learning in Higher Education and Its  Correlates during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability, 13(2), 781. DOI: 10.3390/su13020781

Malmberg, E. (2018). A Study on Gamification and Feedback Use by English Teachers in Swedish Upper Secondary School.
Master’s Degree. Dalarna University

McGreal, R. (2018). Hearables for online learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed
Learning, 19
(4), 260-267.

Nguyen, T. (2015). The Effectiveness of Online Learning: Beyond No Significant Difference and Future Horizons.
Journal Of Online Learning And Teaching, 11(2), 309-319.

Yunus, M.M, Umiera Hashim, H., & Hashim, H. (2019). Massive Open Online Courses: En

Route to Communication Skills Acquisition. Arab World English Journal, 5(5), 98-109. DOI:

10.24093/awej/call5.8

Ministry of Education Malaysia, 2013. Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025. Putrajaya:

Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia

Ministry of Education Malaysia, 2015. The Roadmap 2015-2025. Putrajaya: Kementerian

Pelajaran Malaysia

Morrison, G.R., Ross, S.M., & Kemp, J.E. (2004). Designing Effective Instruction. United States of America: John Wiley & Sons

Nordin, N., Norman, H., Embi, M. A., Mansor, A. Z., & Idris, F. (2016). Factors for

Development of Learning Content and Task for MOOCs in an Asian Context. International

     Education Studies, 9(5), 48-61.

Norman, H., Din, R., & Nordin, N. (2011). A Preliminary Study of an Authentic

Ubiquitous Learning Environment for Higher Education.  Proceedings of the 10th WSEAS e-Activities, 89-94.

Norman, H., Nordin, N., Din, R., Ally, M., & Dogan, H. (2015). Exploring the Roles of         Social

Participation in Mobile Social Media Learning: A Social Network Analysis. The  

     International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(4). 205-224.

DOI: 10.19173/irrodl.v16i4.2124

Pintrich, P. R., & Johnson, G. R. (1990). Assessing and improving students’ learning strategies.

New Directions for Teaching and Learning, (42), 83-92.DOI: 10.1002/tl.37219904209

Pramela, K., & Supyan, H. (2015). Online Forum and Language Learning Pedagogical   

     Consideration. Serdang: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

Rahmat, R. M. et al. (2012). Measuring learners’ perceived satisfaction towards e-learning materials and environment.
 Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277721232_Measuring_Learners’_

Perceived_Satisfaction_Towards_e-Learning_Material_and_Environment

Richards, H., Conway, C., Roskvist, A., & Harvey, S. (2013). Foreign language teachers’ language proficiency and their
language teaching practice. The Language Learning Journal, 41(2), 231-246. DOI: 10.1080/09571736.2012.707676

Saka, F. Ö. (2015). What Exam Papers Make Us Think? Procedia – Social and Behavioral   

  Sciences, 199, 298–304. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.549

Shea-Schultz, H. and Fogarty, J. (2002). Online Learning Today. San Francisco:  Berrett-Koehler

Shih, C. C., & Gamon, J. A. (2002). Relationships among learning strategies, patterns, styles, and achievement in web-based courses.
Journal of Agricultural Education, 43(4), 1- 11.    DOI:10.5032/JAE.2002.04001

Singh, K. K. A. H., & Yunus, M. M. (2021). Using E-Learning in English Language Teaching: A Systematic Review.
International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 10(1), 51–62.DOI: 10.6007/IJARPED/v10-i1/8338

Solak, E., & Cakir, R. (2015). Language learning strategies of language e-learners in Turkey. E-

     Learning and Digital Media, 12(1), 107- 120.

Stavredes, T. (2011). Effective Online Teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass

Yasmin K. Z. N., Norman, H., Yunus, M.M., Hashim, H., & Nordin, N. (2018).

Learning Analytics View on Dispersion of Learning in MOOCs. International Journal of    Engineering & Technology, 7(4.21), 7-10.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.21.21606

Yunus, M. M. (2018). Innovation in Education and Language Learning In 21st Century. Journal  

 of Sustainable Development Education and Research, 2(1), 33. DOI:10.17509/Jsder.V2i1.12355

Yunus, M.M, Hashim, H., Embi, M., & Lubis, M. (2010). The utilization of ICT in the teaching

and learning of English: ‘Tell Me More’. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 9, 685-  DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.218

Zimmerman, B. (2000). Attaining self-regulation: A social cognitive perspective. In M.

Bockacrts, P. R. Pintrich, & M. Zeidner, (Eds), Handbook of self-regulation, (pp. 13-39).Academic Press.

 

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Reddit
Email
StumbleUpon
Digg
Received: 7/8/2021
Accepted: 8/24/2021
Published: 9/29/2021
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.34 

Szarmilaa Dewie Krishnan is a teacher trainer at the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC), Ministry of Education Malaysia. She holds a M.Ed (TESL) from the University of Malaya and currently pursuing her PhD in Instructional Technology of Education at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). She is also the Director of Training Bureau of Malaysian English Language Association (MELTA). ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4005-2951

Assoc. Prof. Ts Dr Muhammad Helmi Norman is currently the Deputy Director of Instructional Technologies of the Center for Teaching and Curriculum Development, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and currently drives the e-learning transformation in the university. He is also an Associate Professor at the Research Center for Teaching and Learning Innovations, Faculty of Education. His research interests are in the field of digital learning and futuristic education. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator and Apple Professional Learning Specialist where he is involved in educational transformations at primary, secondary, and higher education levels in promoting 1:1 pedagogical and learning approaches using the Apple ecosystem and is a certified professional technologist of the Malaysian Board of Technologists. ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4717-3166

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melor Md Yunus is an Associate Professor and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She is best known for establishing the integration of ICT in teaching and learning English as a Second Language research. She is active in scholarly journal writing and publishing. The recipient of more than 200 innovation awards, she is highly regarded among her peers in her field.  ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7504-7143