Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Emergency Forced Remote Education in Learning English

Abstract

The Covid-19 has changed the education landscape around the world including Malaysia. Malaysia has been experiencing the Movement Control Order where learning activities are forced to be in a form of remote learning. Although online learning is commonly used in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions, this study argues that the emergency forced remote education and remote online education are not the same. This study investigates students’ experience in learning English via emergency forced remote education. Students from eight English classes were requested to answer survey at the end of the semester. It was found that majority of the students were satisfied with the English course despite the challenges they have faced in completing the tasks and assessments given. The empathetic approach implemented has helped the students to gain positive learning experience. Based on these findings, possible ways to improve the course design and delivery are discussed and future studies are suggested.