M.A. Thesis:

English Teachers’ Digital Identity: Authenticating the Application of New Technologies in English Language Teaching in Sabzevar English Language Institutes

Nowadays technology is increasingly being used in the educational system and, in this thesis, the researcher intended to authenticate the use of networks and online education in English language learning and teaching in Iranian English language schools. Also, appropriate strategies that teachers could use in some difficult situations in their online classes were surveyed. Participants of this thesis were 20 English teachers who worked in the English institutes of Sabzevar, Iran. The data were collected through two phases and analyzed through qualitative methods. After administering the first phase, the types of participants (chairperson, gardener, firefighter, hero, or dictator) were determined. The findings were some practical strategies that English teachers used in their online classes about diverse issues depending on the questionnaire question. Based on the datasets, the most important strategy that teachers used in online classes was patience (83/16 %). The participants also suggested that some techniques like games and competitions, giving some responsibilities etc. for unmotivated students could be efficient (70/5%). In the end, practical suggestions were suggested in the light of online classes and/or scenarios for English Language Teaching (ELT) in Iranian contexts.

Keywords: Digital identity, Technology, Online Classes, Network, Strategies for Online Classes.