SYNCHRONOUS VIRTUAL LEARNING STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE AND THE PROSPECT IN VIETNAM

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine students’ learning experience with Google Meet, a virtual learning tool in tertiary contexts in Vietnam. The explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used with the participation of 188 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Vietnamese students at a private university in Vietnam. Findings from both the questionnaires and focus group interviews show that the students have a positive learning experience with Google Meet. Particularly, they perceive that breakout rooms in Google Meet enhance their interaction with their lecturers and peers and promote their sense of community in virtual learning classes. Additionally, the flexibility of virtual learning facilitates learners to solve learning-prevented problems, such as internet connection and power outage. Furthermore, blended learning is perceived as a highly preferred learning mode even after the pandemic. Based on the results, pedagogical strategies are implicated to maximize the effectiveness of virtual classes.