Teaching English during Covid-19 at the University of Adrar

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic forced Algerian higher education institutions (HEIs) to shift to emergency remote teaching (ERT) whereby face-to-face interactions were dismissed and the home became the new classroom. However, most universities and higher education schools preferred a blended system, where students were taught in class for times and remotely for some other times. The present paper reports on the results of an investigation into how teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at the University of Adrar, southern Algeria, reacted to the various issues and challenges encountered during ERT and, particularly to the blended teaching-learning process. A mixed-method approach was the main means of data elicitation. The findings reveal that the teaching staff is still resilient to change. The paper
aims at assessing the instructors’ commitment to online or face-to-face teaching; whereas, the ultimate aim is to invite the scientific community to discuss future post-Covid challenges to EFL.