Inovacije u Nastavi (Dec 2021)

Моtivation for Learning Italian Language during Online Teaching

  • Aleksandra Blatešić,
  • Tamara Stanić,
  • Dušana Šakan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5937/inovacije2104064B
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 34, no. 4
pp. 64 – 80

Abstract

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In this paper, we will demonstrate in what way and to what extent the university teaching of the Italian language as an elective and compulsory-elective academic course has changed in the online context imposed in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. The transition from classroom teaching to online teaching (pure e-learning, then blended learning) in synchronous and asynchronous form significantly influenced a number of factors important for the acquisition of the Italian language and introduction to the elements of Italian civilization and culture. The aim of the research was to examine the efficacy of organized (a)synchronous online teaching, to determine to what extent this second way of teaching affects students’ academic motivation to learn Italian as an elective second foreign language, and to establish preconditions for achieving various aspects of motivation: experience with online teaching, achievement, technical difficulties, and attitudes about online teaching. The research was conducted among students of different departments at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad. The study involved 136 students of Italian (85% of respondents), aged 19 to 33 years (AC = 20.55) who had online classes. Using latent profile analysis, four profiles of academic motivation were registered: highly motivated (8% of respondents), moderately motivated (49%), low autonomously motivated (17%) and highly unmotivated (26%). The paper presents affiliations with the profiles in relation to: 1.) experience in online teaching before the pandemic, 2.) academic achievement, 3.) difficulties with the Internet connection during online teaching, and 4.) attitudes about online teaching. The results of the research indicate that the largest number of students prefer live teaching to online, but also that previous experience in online teaching has a significant impact on maintaining optimal or achieving a high level of motivation.

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