INCREASING ENGAGEMENT AMONG ONLINE ARAB LEARNERS OF ENGLISH: A THEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF SOCIAL, COGNITIVE, AND BEHAVIOURAL DIMENSIONS

Autori

  • Mohamed Elboussairi Salih Elhaj Mohmed Barkaoui College of Arts and Humanities, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia orcid.org/0009-0007-4153-3515

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v11i3.6734

Ključne reči:

online engagement, Arab EFL learners, social engagement, cognitive engagement, behavioural engagement, community of inquiry, connectivism

Apstrakt

Online English language education has expanded rapidly across Arab countries, yet many programs report low participation, reluctance to communicate, and uneven achievement. This thematic literature review synthesizes 32 empirical and conceptual studies (2015–2025) examining social, cognitive, and behavioural engagement in online and blended English language courses, with particular emphasis on Arab learners. Drawing on the Community of Inquiry framework, Connectivism, and Collaborative Learning Theory, the review analyses engagement conceptualization and measurement, identifies key factors shaping each dimension, and collates evidence-based strategies for virtual EFL environments. Findings indicate that social engagement is strongly mediated by sociocultural norms (modesty, face-saving, gendered communication) and teaching presence; cognitive engagement depends on task authenticity, perceived relevance, autonomy, and explicit self-regulated learning support; behavioural engagement encompasses both visible digital traces and less observable effort within technological constraints. The review offers pedagogical, institutional, and research recommendations for culturally responsive online English programs.

Biografija autora

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    Dr. Mohamed Elboussairi Salih Elhaj Mohmed Barkaoui is an innovative academic and specialist in English Language Teaching (ELT) and Educational Technology at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. With a PhD in Education and over two decades of lecturing experience in Sudan and Saudi Arabia, his work centres on the intersection of digital pedagogy and language acquisition. Dr. Barkaoui is a certified expert in e-learning integration, focusing his current research on blended learning models, AI-driven instruction, and the optimization of online learning environments for EFL students.

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Preuzimanja

Objavljeno

2026-05-19

Broj časopisa

God. 11 Br. 3 (2026)

Rubrika

Articles

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