المستخلص: |
Studying English as a foreign language in Saudi Arabia has been a topic of research for years. With the growing interest in technology and increasing population, EFL teaching-learning has gone through various developmental stages and undergone important changes to suit students' needs and be satisfactory achieving the desired outcomes. EFL distance learning is one way of learning that becomes apparent in Saudi universities due to a number of factors: limited capacity of colleges and universities, demand for modern learning-teaching process, sociocultural developments and else. The present study was set to investigate the students' perceptions of benefits and challenges of EFL distance learning in Saudi Arabia. It sheds light on the extent to which distance learning can be an alternative for traditional learning and whether it can be enough for English learning. This study provides a case study of a female English distance learner in King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. Utilizing qualitative data collection methods in the form of unstructured interviews, the responses of her provide insights into the important benefits and potential challenges of EFL distance learning in Saudi universities. Data analysis seeks answers to the research questions: 1) Can distance learning be enough to alternate traditional learning of English as a Foreign Language in Saudi universities?, 2) What are the most important benefits and good points about EFL distance learning in Saudi Arabia?, and 3) What are the challenges and problems faced by students in EFL distance learning? Results suggest that distance learning is in its infancy stage in Saudi Arabia. It is like a double-edged sword having not only benefits but also challenges. The conclusion shall provide some significant suggestions that may help teachers and learners of English as well as decision makers in Saudi Arabia.
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