Abstract

A mixed methods study of second language online learning in two distinct contexts was undertaken with a sample of seventy high school students in a private school situated in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China. Quantitative and qualitative feedback in the form of a focus group, a survey, and interview data were coupled with instructor narrative to establish factors that impact preferences of the group for home-based versus school-based online learning with the instructor at a distance as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The action research undertaken by the instructor and second researcher established that while communications technology adequately facilitated online learning, students required self-regulation skills in order to overcome distractions in the home-based model. The research account outlines characteristics of the learning environments and particular challenges experienced in the technology systems and how students and instructor attempted to mitigate those within the constraints of the teaching and learning environment.