Technical Skills and Readiness of English Language teachers in Kazakhstan to teach online

Abstract

The article is written on the basis of the master’s study on online foreign languages teaching, in this case, the English language. Online teaching or distance learning is no longer a “novelty” in modern methods of teaching foreign languages. However, the question that requires close attention today in the process of online teaching is the preparedness of teachers to teach online and their possession of necessary skills for this. This study presents the results of a small survey (n = 378) among teachers of English as a second language (TEFL), where they determine their level of technical skills necessary for teaching languages online. The survey was conducted in online and traditional modes and included 32 questions exclusively in English. The data were correlated with the skills offered in the Internet language learning system according to L.K.L. Compton’s theory. The results of the study allowed us to trace the readiness of modern Kazakhstan teachers and teachers of English to switch to online mode while working with students.