EFL Students' Perspectives On E-Learning In A Saudi University During Coronavirus Variants

The researchers investigated the advantages and disadvantages of the sudden shift to e-learning from the perspectives of Saudi EFLstudents during COVID-19. That shift was the only learning option for a long time to come after the existence of new variants of the virus. Studying students’ views during the pandemic was important to display how they took the responsibility of their learning, interact with the teachers, and collaborate with each other. The researchers performed this study to describe: (a) EFL students’ perspectives on e-learning, (b) advantages of e-learning for EFL, and (c) disadvantages of e-learning for EFL in Saudi Arabia during Coronavirus variants. A self-devised questionnaire and online individual interviews were administered virtually during COVID-19 with male EFL students while they were studying an integrated-skills English course as an intermediate level course in the PYP of a Saudi university. Using the Constant Comparative Method to analyze the qualitative data resulted in eight benefits and four drawbacks of e-learning for Saudi EFL context. Most students viewed that the e-learning and Social Media as supporting platforms of their learning while a few of them did not think favorably of e-learning. Suggestions were offered to enhance the benefits and alleviate the drawbacks.