A Study on the Strategies to Improve French Language Teaching via Zoom: Special Reference to Students in the French Language Institute of Alliance Française de Kotte.

Abstract

Online distance French language learning via Zoom has become essential in the present day. The research focuses on how French language learning can be improved when teaching via Zoom. Accordingly, this research aims to identify the main challenges that students face when learning via Zoom and find out strategies to improve French language learning. The study was carried out with twenty Sri Lankan students from the pre-intermediate level classes at the French language institute of Alliance Française de Kotte. The data were collected from a questionnaire given at the end of the first term and an interview conducted at the end of the second term. The method used was qualitative research, where the data were analyzed thematically. The study's findings indicated that even though students consider learning via Zoom is efficient in terms of time and the current situation of the world, students face several challenges, such as a lack of improvement in speaking and writing skills. It is found out that these challenges can be overcome by blending with classroom-based approaches. Feedback loops, fly swatter game and screen sharing of the students to improve writing and live discussions, use of break out room, polling feature and online learning platform ‘Apolearn’ for vocabulary and to improve speaking skills are found to be effective. When the world is trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, the study would be significant in introducing strategies to teach the French language via Zoom effectively.