Cameras on or Off? Learner Attitudes to Camera Use in Online Classes and Willingness to Communicate in English (66336)
Session Chair: Jeffrey Trambley
Saturday, January 7, 2023 (11:45)
Session: Session 2
Room: 321B
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
During the Covid-19 pandemic, videoconferencing software platforms such as Zoom were seen by many teachers as the best way to recreate the atmosphere of a classroom while they and their students self-isolated. Yet a reluctance among students to switch on cameras in these classes has been observed by many teachers, and policies on camera usage became a topic of some debate in schools and universities. While some research has investigated the reasons for this resistance, this has not been adequately considered in the broader context of learner motivation. This research explored subjective views on camera usage in relation to ‘willingness to communicate’ (WTC) in English with a group of L2 English learners. First, a set statements on camera use was taken from online sources, to represent the spectrum of views on the issue. Using Q-methodology, (n = 45) Japanese learners of English at a University in Greater Tokyo were surveyed on the importance they placed in each of these statements. Through factor analysis, four groups of students with distinct views on camera usage were revealed, ranging from those who were demotivated by or ambivalent to cameras, to those who viewed camera use positively, as an aid to collaborative learning. Students were also given a second, quantitative survey on their WTC, with those who took a negative view of camera usage showing the lowest average WTC among the four groups. The significance of this link between WTC and positive or negative inclinations to camera use will be discussed.
Authors:
Adam Gyenes, Ryutsu Keizai University, Japan
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Adam Gyenes is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Ryutsu Keizai University in Japan
See this presentation on the full schedule – Schedule
Conference Comments & Feedback
Place a comment using your LinkedIn profileShare this Presentation
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress