MOTIVATION AND PERCEPTIONS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN ONLINE ESL CLASSROOMS

Abstract

Attitudes and motivation has a key role in learning a foreign language in a non-native context. The global pandemic introduced a new way of teaching and acquiring languages. As the education system transformed from traditional to digital learning and online communication. Pakistani education system and Higher Education Commission (HEC) faced issues of infrastructure, technology and resourceful teachers. Within these circumstances, the perceptions and attitudes of learners who are prompt at using technology required more attention and motivation to attend online classes. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effect of online education on the motivation of undergraduate students in an ESL classroom. A mixedmethod study has been conducted using a questionnaire for descriptive analysis and semi-structured interviews for thematic analysis to know the attitudes and motivation of the participants. Data has been collected from 200 undergraduate students enrolled in a functional English course in a public sector university. The analysis of the data shows that motivation is a key factor in language learning. Similarly, face-to-face education offers more learning opportunities than online classes. The findings of the study are beneficial for the educational institutes in determining students’ motivation, teaching pedagogy, methodology and learning opportunities for students in online