Student Perceptions on the Use of Zoom Technology for French Language Teaching: with Special Reference to Students in a French Language Institute

Conducting teaching-learning activities using online technologies such as video-conferencing applications (e.g. Zoom) has become essential in the present Sri Lankan context due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to examine Sri Lankan students’ perceptions on the use of Zoom technology for French language teaching. The study is done with twenty Sri Lankan female students whose first language is Sinhalese from the pre-intermediate level classes at the French Language Institute of Alliance Française de Kotte. The data were collected from a pre-test, a post-test and questionnaires. The method used is qualitative research where the data were analysed thematically focusing on the data driven codes. The findings of the study indicated that the majority of the students considered the use of Zoom in French language teaching is effective and efficient in terms of time and the current pandemic situation and they agreed that teaching French language via Zoom can help them in practicing language skills and acquiring new vocabularies.

However, lack of collaboration, loss of identity, difficulty in meeting the expectations of the students, distance and technical issues are considered to be the major challenges in using Zoom technology for French language teaching. The results implied the necessity to conduct blended classes rather than using only online technologies such as video conferencing applications (e.g.- Zoom). At a time when the world is trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, the study carried out is significant in developing strategies to teach French language effectively and further research can be conducted on other video conferencing applications to manage the challenges that the students face in French language teaching.