Interactive Online Teaching of English Language During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Success Story

The present study aimed to answer the general question, “To what extent was the interactive online teaching of English as a foreign language effective?” Online teaching was discussed in relation to interactive and quality teaching, in addition to its advantages and challenges. The study included all students enrolled in four general English courses, with a total number of 628 students, and it was conducted during the summer semester of the academic year 2019/2020. A qualitative approach was employed with a descriptive and analytical design. Some criteria were set in a general framework to measure the effectiveness of online teaching of English including quality and interaction. The criteria were formed in the following main themes of measurement: academic infrastructure, competent instructor in online English teaching, online English teaching process, competent students in online English teaching, and students attained knowledge and skills. Those themes were set based on the literature review and the researcher”s actual experience during the semester under-study. Obtained results were discussed where the general score of effectiveness was 82%. Some learned lessons and recommendations were stated.