International Teacher Education Conference 2014 1

International Teacher Education Conference 2014
Teaching an EAP Course in a Synchronous Videoconferencing Platform:
Technological, Pedagogical and Administrative Reflections
Elif C. Onat a Nuri Kuruoglu b Tufan Adiguzel c*
ª b c Bahcesehir University
Abstract
Given the latest developments in technology and Internet infrastructure, synchronous videoconferencing (SV)
can be seen as a very important platform for delivering distance classes because of its collaborative and
interactive functions. This study aims to evaluate the experience of an undergraduate course about English for
Academic Purposes (EAP) taught in the SV platform during a single semester. This study used qualitative action
research design and included semi-structured interviews with students in Berlin who were taught in a SV room
where local students were also taught at the same time. The evaluation considered quality, reliability, userfriendliness
and cost-efficiency factors from instructor, student, educational technologist and administrator
perspectives, in which course preparation, classroom interactions, course structure, instructional materials,
teaching style, and feedback were discussed. The findings showed that students were overall satisfied with
learning via SV and its management and requirements.
Keywords. Synchronous Video Conference, Distance Education, EAP, Language Education
INTRODUCTION
For some time now, universities/higher education institutions have been using technologies such as
synchronous videoconferencing (SV), online courses, and other technological innovations to deliver language
course instruction for a part of their curriculum. This is an opportunity, which is increasingly relevant to the fastgrowing
need for students to become competent in using high-tech applications and understand the role of
learner-centered engagement in language learning (Hoven, 2006). With support of such technologies, most of
these language-related courses have started being delivered online by mainly emphasizing oral skills.
EAP is a challenging and multi-faceted area within the wider field of English Language Learning and
Teaching (ELT), and is one of the most common forms of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It entails training
students in a higher education setting to use language appropriately so that students can improve their ability to
study effectively on an undergraduate or postgraduate program in English (Hutchinson & Waters, 1987)). Like
other ESP, it is characterized by working out what students’ needs are, and then creating a syllabus and program
of study to meet them. This particular English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course in this study, an
undergraduate course taught in the SV platform during a single semester, aims to develop students’ knowledge
and skills in the following areas: reading and understanding extracts from academic texts, writing sentences and
paragraphs, participating in group discussions, improving study skills such as note-taking and recognizing and
using academic grammar and vocabulary. In this study it is aimed to evaluate quality, reliability, userfriendliness
and cost-efficiency factors of the EAP course taught in SV platform from technological, pedagogical
and administrative perspectives.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Despite the development of language education with technological improvements, most language teachers
still do not prefer interaction in distance education classes. They claim that videoconferencing is not interactive
completely, because of the possible problematic nature of the medium itself: the sense of distance, delays
causing participants loose the rhythm of communication, poor image quality so that unclear facial expressions,
not enough content, less error correction, less active teachers, and slower speaking speeds (Hsieh, Luo, & Breed,
2010). Motamedi (2001) states that the teacher needs to address technical problems immediately so they use up
class time. The most common problem, connection instability can have a negative effect on teaching although,
the Sloan Consortium (Allen & Seaman, 2006) reports that the online courses are equivalent or even superior to
E-mail address: elifcanan.onat@bahcesehir.edu.tr nuri.kuruoglu@bahcesehir.edu.tr
646
tufan.adiguzel@bahcesehir.edu.tr