POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ONLINE LEARNING IN A JOINT MA TESOL PROGRAMME: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Since Covid-19 pandemic, the use of online learning has gained far more currency, not merely in domestic training programs but also in transnational ones. Drawing on a case study of joint MA TESOL program between a Vietnamese college and an Australian college, the researcher investigates the perception of postgraduate students, who are mostly in-service English teachers, towards their online learning experience on LMS (learning management system) as well as Zoom and Microsoft Teams platforms with professors from the two countries. The study employs mixed methods, including a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. 18/43 students in the chosen cohort answered the questionnaire, and three of them attended the interview. The study found that the students’ overall perception towards the LMS of the joint program was quite positive, as it was user-friendly and had useful resources although some limitations still existed. Regarding online learning experience on Zoom and Teams, many students admitted that they could not maintain their interest and engagement throughout the online sessions on these platforms though professors employed different techniques.