FOSTERING VIETNAMESE EFL LEARNERS’ LEARNER AUTONOMY AND READING COMPREHENSION ABILITY THROUGH ONLINE PLATFORMS

Authors

  • Duong Thanh Hung Duc Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • Vo Thi Thu Hang Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v9i4.5624

Keywords:

learner autonomy, reading comprehension, Microsoft Teams, Moodle

Abstract

The ability of learner autonomy is a prerequisite for many university students in Vietnam. However, it is a daunting task for EFL teachers and learners to achieve that learning outcome. The present study aims to delineate second-year English majors’ perceived learner autonomy and reading comprehension ability in an online reading course at Van Lang University, Vietnam, with two online platforms (synchronous via Microsoft Teams and asynchronous via Moodle). During the ten weeks of this course, different online reading and vocabulary practices were assigned to 65 students in two intact classes. The results were obtained from reading tests, questionnaires, and a follow-up interview. The findings revealed that they could perceive their learner autonomy more positively and statistically remarkably improve their reading comprehension ability after the course. The students’ insights into the course’s effectiveness confirmed several benefits in addition to a few barriers (i.e., technical issues, English proficiency levels, learning motivation, and online self-study skills). The results have specific implications for the practice of English reading instruction at the faculty. Viable online platforms and pedagogical techniques should be applied to foster the students’ learner autonomy and reading comprehension ability.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Duong Thanh Hung Duc, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Duong Thanh Hung Duc is a current lecturer at the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He has been teaching reading, writing, and grammar to English-major students at Van Lang University for 10 years. He is interested in researching language testing and MALL.

    Email: duc.dth@vlu.edu.vn

  • Vo Thi Thu Hang, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Vo Thi Thu Hang is a current lecturer at the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She has been committed to teaching English in several institutions in Vietnam, including on-site and online English coaching and training, for more than 8 years within the context of language centers, companies, and universities. She earned her postgraduate diploma in TESOL from Open University and holds a Master's degree in TESOL from Victoria University, Australia. Currently, she is an EFL lecturer in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City. She mainly teaches majored subjects to English- majored students. Her research interests include teacher professional development, learners ‘autonomy, teaching integrated skills, second language acquisition and CALL.

    Email: hang.vtt@vlu.edu.vn

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Published

2024-10-15

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 4 (2024)

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