8 Ways to Boost Students Engagement During Asynchronous English Language Learning
Imagine a classroom unbound by walls where students are free to learn whenever, wherever and however they choose. In today’s digital age, this is exactly what asynchronous learning offers students. For some students, asynchronous learning is the ultimate game-changer, as it offers flexibilities and new learning opportunities such as self-paced learning. On the other hand, some students may face challenges, particularly in maintaining their motivation and self-discipline to learn, for example in language courses such as English, without direct face-to-face interactions during this learning mode.
Therefore, it is important to explore and develop effective strategies in keeping students engaged and excelling in asynchronous language learning. Here are 8 suggested strategies to enhance students’ participation during asynchronous English language learning:
1. Create Engaging Contents
With Gen Z’s attention span is just eight seconds (similar to a goldfish!), engaging content is key to seizing and sustaining university students’ attention nowadays. Instructors can utilise multimedia resources such as compelling infographics, videos, podcasts, interactive activities and quizzes, which can be prepared on platforms such as Edpuzzle, Padlet, Quizizz, Canva, and many more, to cater to different learning styles and maintain the students’ interest.
2. Foster a Collaborative Environment
Instructors can encourage collaboration among students through online discussion boards, group projects, or shared language activities for example via Google Docs and Padlet. Although the students are on their own without their friends in the physical class, instructors should create learning environments where the students will not feel alone but acquire the sense of togetherness and support in their asynchronous language learning journey. For example, instructors can assign collaborative activities where students can learn together with their friends by exchanging ideas, which will significantly boost their language learning motivation.
3. Set Clear Goals and Expectations
Establishing achievable goals and communicating them clearly to students are crucial to motivating them to keep on learning. This will help the students to understand the learning purpose and direction, then further boost their motivation to complete their lessons until the end.
4. Offer Flexibility and Autonomy Grant
Instructors should allow flexibility in deadlines and offer self-paced learning opportunities. A respondent of an action research from Developing Strategies to Motivate Students in Asynchronous English Language Learning (PBM22022) shared:
"No limit on the time to watch the video but need to set a deadline by the day. Since the video needs to take time to digest the information given, I prefer to study asynchronously during the nighttime when all classes are finished.”
This dynamicity will enhance the students’ sense of control and ownership, transforming their language learning experience.
5. Provide Timely and Constructive Feedback
When it comes to asynchronous learning, not only the students need to be disciplined in completing the activities or assignments, but instructors should also deliver timely comments and guidance on the submitted work to acknowledge the students’ efforts, maintain their learning momentum, and ultimately reinforce positive learning behaviours. Nowadays, instructors can use automated feedback or Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistance to provide instant feedback on students work such as on spelling, grammar, capitalisation, punctuation, style and many more.
6. Integrate Real-world Applications
Instructors can prepare asynchronous language learning activities or assignments that require students to solve real-world problems or case studies, as well as assign community-based tasks such as participating in local events where they must conduct interviews in English. This will connect asynchronous language learning with real-life scenarios.
7. Gamify Learning Experiences
Implementing gamification during asynchronous language learning can assist students in enhancing their understanding in more entertaining and engaging ways. For instance, language instructors can assign self-paced language learning tasks such as interactive language quizzes via platforms like Quizizz and Kahoot!.
8. Celebrate Achievements
Students will feel more accomplished if their achievements are acknowledged, regardless big or small, especially where limited interactions usually occur during asynchronous language learning. Instructors can reward students with leaderboards, virtual celebrations such as customised e-badges, participation e-certificates, recognition e-posters, or even by just giving them simple congratulations shout-outs in class WhatsApp/Telegram groups after the students have completed their assigned tasks or goals during the asynchronous language learning. This will recognise the students efforts and commitment to complete the assigned tasks and can motivate them to continue learning.
In conclusion, enhancing students learning motivation during asynchronous English language learning may require more efforts, but it is feasible with comprehensive strategies. Before the asynchronous English language learning takes place, instructors should discuss with their students about their learning preferences, such as the types of activities, as well as platforms to be used to conduct the suggested activities. Asynchronous language learning can become a fulfilling and joyful educational experience with benefits for both teachers and students if appropriate approaches are implemented.
Writer is a Language Teacher at Centre for Modern Languages (CML), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).
This article represents the authors’ personal views and does not reflect the official position of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).
E-mail: nurkarimah@umpsa.edu.my
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