English Language Learning in Adulthood: Perceptions of female adult learners (Published)
Adult learning in an EFL context is one of the most current issues researched in education. Just as the importance of learning a language is growing by the minute, the number of adult learners is enhancing too. The current study investigates the motivation of EFL adult Learners to go back to higher education, their preferred learning styles, and difficulties faced by them. The study consisted of 132 female participants from the College of Basic Education, who answered a 45 statements questionnaire. The answers were analysed quantitatively through SPSS to find the means, frequencies, and significance in correlation with several independent variables. It has been found that female adult learners have mixed intrinsic and extrinsic motives towards learning EFL, and while learning styles varied, institutional barriers such as poor facilities, strict regulations and traditional teaching practice appear to be the greatest difficulties to learners. The study is concluded with several suggestions that aim to provide effective adult EFL learning.
Keywords: Barriers, EFL, Learning strategies, PLS, adult-learner, motivations
Discussion of a Pilot Case Study on Adult Learners’ Online Interaction (Published)
This pilot case study explores claims made in literature relating to the causes of lack of online interaction among adult-learners participating in a blended learning programme. Since this study is explorative in nature, it also informs the direction in which subsequent research should go. A preliminary literature review shows the salient factors relating to lack of online interaction as being ‘lack of convergence’ and ‘lack of social presence’. To seek said validation, a practical pilot case study, using a mixed-method approach, was carried out through a questionnaire and through interviews. Results in this study reveal that students do not engage with the online environment when the same content is repeated during f2f meetings, or when online assignments are not addressed during f2f meetings, i.e. lack of convergence. In relation to social presence, the teacher’s social presence was considered more important than that of peers as it relates to adult-learners specifically.
Keywords: adult-learner, blended learning, online interaction