LEARNING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN THE SHADOW OF THE COVID-19: PERSPECTIVES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

In recent years, developments in information technology and digitalization with the impact of industry 4.0 have shown their effects in education as in every field and started to provide educational institutions the opportunity to perform their activities independently of time and place. However, the sudden break out of the coronavirus plague, which is experienced worldwide and in Turkey, has shown the importance of creating an online education infrastructure. Since the reflections of COVID-19 on English language education in secondary schools is far more than foreseen, the study aims to depict secondary school online English, so a case study design of Qualitative research is implemented. The study group consists of fifteen 6th grade secondary school students. The study data was collected by a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers. Then the data obtained were analyzed implementing content analysis. The findings obtained from the interviews of the study indicated that the situations that negatively affect English learning through digital game-based applications are affective filters, lack of internet access or technological devices, inadequate program adjustment. In contrast, the use of game-based applications can foster student motivation and participation.