Can new technologies offer a learning environment in online lessons similar to in-class lessons in English as a foreign language?

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Ensenyament i Adquisició de la Llengua Anglesa en Contextos Multilingües (Pla de 2013) (A distància). Codi: SAY531. Curs: 2019/2020 New technologies in education and, especially in English as a foreign language learning, have been gradually integrated into Spanish primary education schools. However, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this integration, thus transforming the way that information and communication technologies (ICTs) were used in the classroom. This TFM gives examples of methodologies based on a fundamental use of the new technologies such as Flipped Classroom, as well as examples of programs and APPS for the teaching of each skill, with their limitations and their positive points respect to in-class work. This TFM also investigates if Spanish primary English teachers, students, and schools were prepared for adapting the teaching and learning process to this new situation by asking primary education English teachers’ about their experiences through a semi-closed questionnaire. Results show differences between teaching and learning experiences in face-to-face vs online class, as there still exist a lot of limitations which difficult online learning. Likewise, it has been proven that the value of oral skills worked online depends on teachers’ previous knowledge about new technologies. Moreover, primary education teachers have increased their working loads and they believe that ICT resources will never substitute them. This TFM concludes that new technologies offer a new vision and structure of education that will never be so close to in-class’ situation and structure as we want them to pretend, but that teachers and society have to learn how to integrate them in students’ syllabuses, as new technologies may not only be seen as a complement but also as a mean of teaching and learning.