Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL Number 9. July 2023                    Pp. 135-146
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call9.9

Full Paper PDF

  Challenges and Difficulties Faced  by ESP Teachers in Teaching during COVID-19
Pandemic in Iraq

  Edhah Numan Khazaal
Department of International Economic Relations
College of Political Sciences,
University of Al-Nahrain, Baghdad, Iraq
E-mail: ass.prof.edhah@gmail.com

 

Received 04/13/2023                 Accepted:07/05/ 2023                Published: 07/24/2024

 

Abstract:
E-teaching quickly became an essential way for educational institutions and universities during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as teaching during the breakdown has brought education to a new level. The present study aimed to investigate the challenges and difficulties faced ESP teachers in online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq and also clarify the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on changing the methods of teaching. The study is important to show the role of online teaching and the teachers’ barriers to online teaching. The study aims to answer the following question: Are there any challenges and difficulties faced the ESP teachers in e-teaching during the covid-19 pandemic? And what are the factors that cause these challenges and difficulties? The study is limited to ESP teachers at Al-Nahrain /College of political sciences during the academic year 2022-2023. The participants of this research are ESP teachers, who have been teaching English for specific purposes for years. Twenty ESP teachers were chosen randomly for this study. An online questionnaire and interview were designed by using Google Forms for this purpose. The data analyzed qualitatively. The results showed that there are many problems facing the ESP teachers in online teaching. These problems may be solved by acquiring training, technical skills, and the development of information and technology. The conclusion showed there are numerous challenges and difficulties face Iraqi teachers in teaching on-line.
Keywords: Challenges and difficulties, COVID-19 pandemic, ESP teachers, Google Forms, Online Teaching

Cite as: Khazaal, E. N.  (2023).  Challenges and Difficulties Faced by ESP Teachers in Teaching During COVID – 19 Pandemic in Iraq. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL (9)135-146.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call9.9

References

Ahmed, K., W. & Ahmed, H. (2020). The Application and Challenges of Using E-Learning in Teaching at Iraqi Universities during the Coronavirus (Covid-19)Iraqi University Journal. Center of Research and Studies. Al-Noon Center.1 (2) .224-240.

Al- Kayed. R. I. (2020). Advantages and disadvantages of e- learning in basic private

Schools in the AL-Jama’a district in Jordan from a teacher perspective . Ilkogretim Online – Elementary Education Online, 19 (4): 920-927

http://ilkogretim-online.org .doi:10.17051/ilkonline.2020.04.200

Ameen, N. & Willis, R. (2017). The use of e-learning by students in Iraqi universities: Potential and challenges. Conference Paper · 8th International Visible Conference on Educational Studies & Applied Linguistics. Conference Paper.369-381 DOI: 10.23918/vesal2017.a2

Anderson, T.  (2008). The Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Athabasca: Athabasca University Press.

Ascough, R. (2002). Designing for online distance education: putting pedagogy before  technology. Teaching Theology and Religion, 5 (1). Pp.17-29. Retrieved from:  http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1368-4868&site=1.

Atsani, K. L. G. M. Z. (2020). Transformasi mediapembelajaran pada masa Pandemi COVID- 19.  Al-Hikmah, 1 (1), 82–93.

BBC. (2020). Coronavirus: Window of Opportunity to Act, World Health Organization Says. Retrieved from:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51368873.

Bipasha G. (2020). Advantages and Disadvantages of  Online Teaching Learning during Pandemics. International Journal of  Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT). 8 (8), 982-985. Available at: https:/ www.ijcrt.org.

Bijeesh, N. A. (2017) Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning. Sadeghi International Journal of Research in English Education 4,(1),  81-88. Retrieved from: https: //www.indiaeducation.net/online-education/articles/advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-distancelearning.html.

Brown, C. (2017). Advantages and disadvantages of distance learning.  Retrieved from:               https://www.eztalks.com/elearning/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-distance-learning.html

Crawford, J. et al. (2020). COVID-19: 20 Countries Higher Education Intra-Period

Digital Pedagogy Responses. Journal of Applied Teaching and Learning, 3 (1), 9-28.

https://doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2020.3.1.7

Dyrud, M. A. (2000). The Third Wave: a position paper. Business Communication Quarterly, 63 (3), 81-93.  https://doi.org/10.1177/108056990006300310

Harasim, L. M. (1989). Online education: A new domain. In R. Mason & A. Kaye (Eds.), Mindweave: Communication, computers and distance education (pp. 50-62). New York: Pergamon Press.

Hasan, N., & Bao, Y.(2020). Impact of “e-Learning Crack-Up” Perception on Psychological Distress among College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mediating Role of “Fear of Academic Year Loss”. Children and Youth Services Review, 118, (12) 183–192 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105355

Henderson  M. D., Schmus C. J., McDonald C. C., & Irving S. Y. (2020)  The COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on child mental health: A socio-ecological perspective. Pediatric Nursing, 46 (6), 267–290.

Kerras, N., & Salhi , S. E. (2021). University Education in Algeria during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Limitations and Challenges. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Arab World English Journal, 12 (3), 16-35 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.2

Khazaal, E. N. (.2022). ESP Undergraduates students’ PerceptionTtowards E-learning During Covid-19: A Case Study at the College of Political Sciences, Al-Nahrain University.  Ramah Journal for Researches and Studies, 9 .821-839

Korkmaz, G., & Toraman, Ç. (2020) . Are we ready for the post-covid-19 educational practice? An investigation into what educators think as to online learning. International Journal of Technology in Education and Science (IJTES), 4 (4), 293-309. DOI: 10.46328/ijtes.v4i4.110

Martin, F., & Bolliger, D. U. (2018) Engagement Matters: Student Perceptions on the Importance of Engagement Strategies in the Online Learning Environment. Online Learning, 22, 205-222. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v22i1.1092

Naqvi, S., & Zehra, I. (2020). Online EFL Emergency Remote Teaching during COVID 19, Challenges and Innovative Practices: A Case of Oman. Arab World English Journal(AWEJ). Proceedings of  2nd MEC TESOL,17-35.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/MEC2.2

Rick, T., Knight, C., Watermeyer, R. P., & Goodall, J. (2021). The International Impact of COVID-19  and “Emergency Remote Teaching” On Computer Science Education Practitioners. In 2021 IEEE GlobalEngineering Education Conference (EDUCON) (pp. 1048-1055) . Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). DOI :10.1109/EDUCON46332.2021.9453846

Serin..H. (2022). Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 on Higher Education in Iraq . International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies. 9, (1.), 87-90  DOI: 10.23918/ijsses.v9i1p78.

Trang. T.T. L (2022).A Study on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning at a University in Vietnam during the  Covid – 19 Pandemic Era. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME), 12(2 Ser.), 44-48 Available at www.iosrjournals.org

Watermeyer, R., Courtois, A., & Lauder, H. (2020). Reacting to Covid-19 by slashing fixed-term staff would be a disaster. Times Higher Education. IU Online University

Available at: www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/reacting-covid-19-slashing-fixed-term-staff-would-be-adisaster

Watermeyer, R., Crick, T., Knight, C., & Goodall, J. ( 2020 ). COVID-19 and Digital Disruption in UK Universities: Afflictions and Affordances of Emergency Online Migration. Higher Education 81 (3), 623–641.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00561-y

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Reddit
Email
StumbleUpon
Digg
Received: 04/13/2023 
Accepted: 07/05/ 2023    
Published: 07/24/2024 
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3707-5164
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call9.9  

Dr.  Edhah  Numan  Khazaal is a Professor of Applied Linguistics and ELT at the Department of International Economic Relations in the College of Political Sciences at Al-Nahrain University. Baghdad. Iraq. I received my Ph.D. degree in Applied Linguistics from the College of Education for Human Sciences (Ibn – Rushd), Baghdad University. I have been teaching English as a foreign language and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) since 2000 till current. I have several international publications.
ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3707-5164