The Attributes of Successful Distance Language Learner
Keywords:
Online learners attributes, Self-efficacy, Distance language learningAbstract
With the popularity of distance learning in the form of online learning throughout Thai education today, understanding the attributes of successful online learners has become very crucial because it can help course developers to prepare materials and help for learners. This study focuses on the attributes of learners who study language in a distance learning mode by aiming to investigate learners’ attributes that may assist them to learn successfully in a Web-based distance writing setting. The study was conducted with distance learners who enrolled in an online English language writing course at one of the well-known English language tutorial schools in Bangkok. The research instruments included an online survey questionnaire (Self-Efficacy Scale) and telephone interviews. The questionnaire was used to determine the learners’ entry-level confidence with necessary writing skills and computer skills for online learning in order to predict their success and select the highly self-efficacious learners as the subjects for more in-depth study. A content-analysis of interview data revealed unique characteristics that are possessed by the online language learners and how they dealt with the tasks.
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Copyright (c) 2014 Phuttharaksa Yantraprakorn, Pornapit Darasawang, Pamararat Wiriyakarun
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