The impact of virtual language laboratories on improving English literacy skills for fifth graders in distance learning in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract EN

This study aims to measure the effectiveness of utilizing virtual language laboratories in developing literacy skills among primary school pupils.

to fulfill the purpose of the study, two instruments were constructed namely a researcher designed questionnaire to determine the literacy sub-skills needed at this stage, and a pre-post literacy test.

the validity and reliability of the study instruments were established before their use in this research.

notwithstanding, this study adopted the quasi-experimental design.

also, the sample of the study consisted of 50 pupils randomly selected from fifth grade in a primary school, in Sharjah city, where 25 pupils represented the experimental group and 25 represented the control group.

the virtual language laboratories training was administered to the experimental group for 4 weeks, whereas the control group received the conventional teaching following the prescribed teacher's guide procedures.

however, results of the post-administration of the study instruments revealed that the virtual language laboratories program led to significant improvement in pupils’ literacy skills.

thus, it was concluded that using the virtual language laboratories program was highly effective in improving the participants' performance.

hence, it was recommended that the ministry of education should train English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher in using MALL strategies, to help their pupils to learn EFL literacy skills.