Paradigm Shift: ESL Undergraduates’ Experience in the Usage of Resources During the Pandemic

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has evolved significantly over the past few years and has been a key deciding factor for the effectiveness of the global education system. For Sri Lanka, the education system has been evolving with the advancements in ICT since the 1980s, following the launch of the distance learning mode introduced by the Open University. However, the arrival of COVID-19 challenged the prevalent face-to-face teaching since remote learning had not been the common type practiced in many local tertiary-level institutes. The main requirement for online teaching has been resources and their practical use for online learning. Thus, the present study compares the firsthand experience of 225 undergraduates representing the state and nonstate sectors, concerning resources and their overall impact on their English language learning. The data was gathered via an online questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS statistical software. Once analyzed, the findings of the study imply that most of the undergraduates of both universities have been exposed to several resources when learning English online, causing their stimulation and development of their language competency, mainly in reading and writing, along with grammar and vocabulary. However, it is statistically evident that this academic satisfaction is negatively affected due to specific difficulties, concerning network connection, inadequate training, minimal exposure to LMS, and one video conferencing platform, and most importantly, poor attention paid to developing the learners’ speaking skills via the available resources.