The Future of Education

Among the many negative aspects of the pandemic-driven 2020, probably the most rampant has affected education worldwide. Schools everywhere have experienced a dramatic shift away from the traditional wall-enclosed classroom into the virtual space hosted by digital learning platforms. Far from being a matter of choice, but rather an imperative driving versatility and adjustment, online learning has completely replaced traditional face-to-face teaching. Against the backdrop of the many debates surrounding the issue of which mode of education is superior and more beneficial, the students’ perceptions towards online learning as compared to traditional face-to-face learning have largely been overlooked. This article aims to fill this void in the literature and explore military students’ perceptions towards online versus face-to-face education, by applying a targeted questionnaire specifically focused on foreign language learning methods, skills to be acquired, and attitudes towards these two types of instruction. As a conclusion, the paper postulates that the hybrid mode (i.e., online lectures blended with face-to-face practice) is the most desired and productive instructional method for learners of foreign languages.

Keywords: traditional learning, e-learning, foreign languages, hybrid education, questionnaire, military students.

References

• Cakici, Dilek, The use of ICT in teaching English as a foreign language, Participatory Educational Research (PER), Special Issue 2016-IV, pp. 73-77 November, 2016. Available online at
  http://www.partedres.com
• Hashemi, B., The investigation of factors affecting the adoption if ICTs among English language teachers in ESL context. International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World, Vol. 4(1), pp. 58-72, September 2013, ISSN 2289-2737.
• Raval, M.R., Use of ICT in English Language Teaching, International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages, Vol. 2(2), pp. 21-24, February 2014, ISSN 2321 – 2853.
• Yusof, N. A., and Saadon, N., The Effects of Web-Based Language Learning on University Students’ Grammar Proficiency,  The 3rd International Conference on e-Learning ICEL2011, 23-24 November 2011, Bandung, Indonesia, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 67, pp. 402 – 408, Elsevier Ltd., 2012.