Abstract:

The impact of new technologies on education and learning process has been growing since the beginning of the 21st century. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a larger implementation of information technologies into learning and teaching. Face-to-face education was replaced by massive usage of the internet applications mediating communication between teacher and learners. In this way, the courses of English for Medical Purposes (EMP) at Jessenius Faculty of Medicine had to be quickly adjusted to the educational needs of the students. This study presents an investigation of the effects of online education on learning outcomes in advanced English learners during two semesters at Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University (JFM CU) in Martin, Slovakia. The sample consisted of 236 students. Two groups of the first-year students attended English online courses and took EMP exams at the end of each semester. The test results were compared and evaluated. The methods of EMP teaching were different in both groups. Students who attended asynchronous courses achieved higher scores than students participating in online learning synchronously, in a real time. The questionnaire, following the actual study, delivered useful data which revealed that the students, on the one hand, missed face-to-face communication between teacher and students, teacher’s feedback on EMP students’ performance as well as classroom learning atmosphere; and, on the other hand, they appreciated their own time management and comfort while studying from home.

Keywords:

English for Medical Purposes, online education, testing, t-test, questionnaire.