Utilizing WhatsApp Group as a Medium of Lecturer-Students Interaction in EFL Classes during COVID-19 Pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17977/um064v2i22022p151-166Keywords:
perceptions, interaction, learners, lecturers, pandemicAbstract
Abstract: This study aims to investigate learners' perceptions and attitudes towards the interaction between lecturer and learners in WhatsApp groups regarding university's closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This research employed a survey design, involving 60 university students who were required to complete a set of close-ended and open-ended questionnaires. The findings showed that the use of WhatsApp group discussion has benefited the students greatly to engage with their lecturer and their classmates. Around 55.17 percent of the respondents perceived the WhatsApp group discussion positively, 27.55 percent perceived mixed and 17.24 percent negatively. Generally, the respondents perceive WhatsApp group discussion as a tool for convenience, accessibility, speed and even self-confidence for classroom interaction. However, some of the respondents also reported the drawbacks of WhatsApp Group discussion, namely, the distraction during the discussion, overwhelmed by the volume of the message, and lack of speaking activities in the WhatsApp-mediated classroom. Future research which includes lecturers’ perspective is needed to further explore the phenomenon of WhatsApp Group used in EFL classrooms.
Keywords: perceptions, interaction, learners, lecturers, pandemic
Abstrak: Penelitian ini dikembangkan untuk menginvestigasi persepsi dan sikap mahasiswa tentang interaksi antara dosen dan mahasiswa melalui WhatsApp grup sehubungan dengan ditutupnya universitas karena pandemic COVID-19. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain survey yang melibatkan 60 pelajar dari universitas untuk menyelesaikan satu set kuisioner dengan pertanyaan terbuka dan tertutup. Hasil dari penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa pengunaan diskusi pada WhatsApp grup menguntungkan mahasiswa untuk sangat terikat kepada dosen dan rekan sekelas. Sekitar 55,17 persen peserta beranggapan pengunaan WhatsApp grup positif, 27,55 persen merasa bimbang dan 17,24 persen negatif. Pada umumnya, para responden beranggapan bahwa diskusi WhatsApp grup merupakan alat untuk aspek kenyamanaan, aksebilitas, kecepatan, dan bahkan kepercayaan diri untuk berinteraksi dalam kelas. Namun, beberapa responden juga menyebutkan tentang kekurangan dari diskusi dalam WhatsApp grup, yaitu gangguan selama diskusi, kewalahan dengan jumlah pesan, dan kurangnya kegiatan speaking di kelas yang dimediasi menggunakan WhatsApp. Penelitian selanjutnya yang mencakup perspektif dosen diperlukan untuk lebih mengeksplorasi fenomena WhatsApp grup yang digunakan di kelas Bahasa Inggris.
Kata kunci: persepsi, interaksi, mahasiswa, dosen, pandemi
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