DIFFICULTIES IN TEACHING ENGLISH DISTANTLY USING GOOGLE CLASSROOM

Abstract

Conducted with three English lecturers at IAIN Salatiga as the subjects, this study has the purpose to identify the difficulties faced by the English teachers when teaching distantly using Google Classroom as well as its causing factors and the teachers’ strategies to overcome those difficulties. The qualitative study makes use of an online questionnaires and documentation in order to collect data. The result of the study shows that teachers have confronted some difficulties while teaching English distantly using Google Classroom mainly in terms of (1) students’ lack of knowledge in operating Google Classroom, (2) keeping students active in the Google Classroom class sessions, (3) managing students in the online tasks and submissions, (4) coping with technical problems such as bad signals and limited internet access especially experienced by students. To overcome these difficulties, teachers’ strategies such as providing clear instructions on how to operate Google Classroom, presenting interesting material and engaging questions to students, and advising students to find a better internet connection are strongly recommended.