Abstract
Before the 2020 pandemic, most of the teaching of Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) happened within traditional classroom settings. With a sudden shift to e-learning due to COVID-19, teachers have been facing many challenges. However, the transition has also forced Chinese language teachers to rethink the advantages of digital tools and redesign class activities to make e-learning more fun. It has even inspired them to design new 100% online courses and bring more digital tools into the classrooms in the future. This research points out common challenges that CSL teachers have been dealing with during the sudden transition, such as: the lack of online teaching resources and reliable platforms; a shortage of training for online teaching; difficulties of creating an interactive environment online; sudden increased workload; and insufficient experience in conducting online assessment. It also analyses the rising opportunities of expanding CSL online courses and popularizing some digital tools. Not only this sudden change of teaching method during the pandemic will result in the rise of more interactive online CLS courses and bring a new trend to use the web for more communicative language learning, it will also fundamentally change in-person teaching where the convergence of online tools, classroom technology and traditional teaching happens.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2021 Special Focus - Transcending Social Distance: Emerging Practices in e-Learning
KEYWORDS
E-learning; Chinese as a Second Language
